Australian sharemarket returns were positive in the month of December, with the All Ordinaries index gaining 2.4% to close the month at 5,344.6 points. The rally has been short-lived however, with volatility remaining a feature of invesmtent markets as we enter into the New Year.
In contrast, global investment markets were weak in December. The US Dow Jones Index declined by 1.7%, the London FTSE declined by 1.8%, the Japan Nikkei 225 Index declined by 3.5% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index declined by 0.4%.