FEATURES:
Revealed: our annual selection of share and fund tips for the coming year, chosen to suit all tastes.
■ Classic cars - a vintage investment?
The classic car market is in the fast lane again and beating returns on equities and other more traditional assets. But is it still a good time to get behind the wheel, or is it all about to crash and burn?
365 DAYS:
■ All you need to know about what made the headlines over the past year.
NEWS:
■ Uncertainty blights UK recovery - Continued uncertainty about the eurozone recession and US fiscal policy could hold back the UK economy.
■ Conflicting trends for UK house prices - House prices are still regarded as being too high, but they are being supported by demand which far outstrips supply
■ China PMI buoys prospects - a third consecutive monthly rise for China's official purchasing managers' index.
■ Third parties sign up with Greka - Greka Drilling has secured two important third-party contracts in China to add to its existing work with Green Dragon Gas.
■ Central Asia looks good for income - We're downgrading our successful summer buy tip, Central Asia Metals, to a hold after a 77.5 per cent gain in six months.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK:
■ Recessions, good and bad - Policy-makers and journalists care more about small recessions than they do about big ones.
■ Next week's economics - Next week's figures could show that the UK economy did badly at the end of last year, but that there are small signs of hope for the eurozone.
COMMENT:
Our columnists offer in-depth analysis and investment ideas:
■ The Editor: Just do it - The US may have avoided going over the fiscal cliff, but the failure to address the fundamental problems with the US economy highlights the dangers of leaving things to the eleventh hour.
■ Simon Thompson: Rampant Bargain Shares - Our companies editor reviews his top-performing 2012 Bargain Shares.
■ Chris Dillow: Safe to speculate - Adding some speculative shares to a defensive portfolio might reduce risk. Plus, the conventional view that shares are a better long-term investment than a short-term one might be wrong.
■ Property Matters: Invest in mortgages - Most of us have taken out mortgages. Now, courtesy of the dysfunctional banking sector, you can invest in them.
YOUR MONEY:
Financial planning, tax and investment wisdom:
■ Portfolio: Risk-tolerant investor needs new strategy.
■ Financial planning: Ten financial resolutions for 2013.
■ IC tax tip: How to mitigate a £1,300 tax penalty
FUNDS:
■ What lies ahead in 2013? Ask the managers
■ Track the best returns of 2013
■ What advisors are tipping for 2013
■ What advisers are tipping for 2013
SHARES:
The lowdown on the latest company results:
■ Carnival
■ Stock screen: Expect better from these five stocks - We get the new year under way with a screen based on brokers' upgrades, which outperformed strongly in 2012.
■ Sector focus: Buy the best of 2012's top sector - Last year saw a string of high-profile high-street chains go under, yet the FTSE All-Share's general retailers delivered a cracking total return of 39 per cent.
■ Directors' dealings: Notable transactions at Darty, plus a table of all boardroom share trades.
■ Week ahead: A summary of key company announcements expected in the coming week.
TAKEOVERS:
■ Download this week's takeover tables as a PDF.
TRADING:
■ Trading ideas: Chart-driven calls on Kazakhmys, silver, FTSE and Xcite Energy.
■ The Trader: Best foot forward - The Trader considers the likely relevance of a good first week for the markets.
