Slow and steady wins the race this week as more traditional shares returned to favour with investors.
In contrast to last week's 50 per cent gains, which were buoyed by tech stocks, this week's winner has secured just 14 per cent to top the Week 2 board. Ms Teresa Timlin from Ballina, Co Mayo, secured the weekly £1,000 Sharetrack 100 prize and a year's free share dealing with AIB even though none of her individual shares were the top 10 gainers.
A surge in the price of Lloyds, Intel and McDonald's helped Team 18656 notch up strong gains from the previous week. The other portfolio holdings include: Disney, Kingspan, United Drug, Dixons and BT.
Ms Timlin's portfolio currently ranks 8154th overall with a value of £1,015,235.58.
Although initially shocked at her win, Ms Timlin says when choosing her shares she "was really just thinking about the economy and what's driving it". The portfolio is fashioned around the building, media and telecoms sectors but a company's longterm value is extremely important, she said.
Some of her choices are consumer related, but she reluctantly chose Dixons and hopes to sell it soon. The retailer lost almost 6 per cent of its value last week.
Ms Timlin is a financial adviser/insurance broker working with C&N Financial Services in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo.
This is her first time in the competition and she will use the cash to buy real shares and pay off a holiday loan.
In the markets, a yo-yo effect was evident with tech stocks as last week's number one gainer became the biggest loser. Iona Technologies declined by 21 per cent following gains of almost 74 per cent in the weeks following registration. Baltimore Technology was a close second among decliners.
Maynooth finance student Mr Keith Delahunty from Shannon, Co Clare, goes to the head of the weekly student winners board with more than a 13 per cent gain.
Merger activities were on his mind when he chose his shares: AOL, Vodafone, Dixons, Pzifer, Disney, Microsoft, CRH and ABN-Amro. Mr Delahunty would like to sell Dixons but it is one of his core holdings.
The £100 will come in handy around college before the Easter break, he said.
