Year in review quiz
All figures current as at 17 December 2023.
Which major sharemarket performed best in 2023?
Japan has been the best performing market in 2023, with the Topix index up 25.8%. The US is a close second, with the S&P 500 index adding 24.9%.
In October of this year, the yield on a US 10-year Treasury bond hit 5.00% for the first time since?
The US 10-year Treasury yield last hit 5.00% in 2007, 16 years ago during the GFC-era.
How has the NZX 50, New Zealand’s headline index, performed in 2023? (the closest answer is correct)
The NZX 50 is up a marginal 0.7% in 2023, which is essentially a flat return. While better than the previous two years, this is below the average annual return since inception in 2001 of 8.3%.
Which company in the US S&P 500 index performed best in 2023?
Chipmaker NVIDIA (pronounced "in-vidia") was the best performer of 2023, rising 235% as advances in AI spurred demand for processing power. Meta (previously Facebook) was number two with a gain of 178%.
New Zealand's Official Cash Rate (OCR) increased to 5.50% in 2023. When was it last at these levels?
The OCR is at its highest level since late 2008, during the GFC. Earlier that year, it peaked at 8.25%.
We saw a change of government in 2023, after six years of Labour. When was the last time a ruling party was voted out after just two terms?
The last government to be voted out after just two terms was Labour government of 1984-1990 (Lange/Palmer/Moore). Every government since then has lasted three terms (nine years).
A big story of 2023 was the US banking crisis in March, which saw three regional banks fail. Which of the below survived?
First Republic Bank, which was closed and sold to banking heavyweight JPMorgan Chase. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank collapsed, while Silvergate Bank went into liquidation.
Which company has been the best NZX 50 performer this year?
Online travel business Serko was the top performer in the NZX 50 in 2023, with a return of 91%. Sky TV came in second place, rising 29%.
Based on Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures, the national median house price has slipped 2.0% in the past 12 months, but in which part of the country have house prices increased?
Canterbury is the only place where house prices have increased, with a gain of 5.3% in the year to November 2023.
The US Federal Reserve increased its policy interest rate to 5.50% in 2023. That's the highest since?
The last time the Fed Funds Rate was this high was back in 2001. During the GFC, it reached 5.25%.
Net migration (arrivals less departures) has been much stronger than expected in 2023, tracking well above the long-term average of just under 30,000. Which of the below is closest to New Zealand's net migration gain in the last 12 months?
Net migration gain was 128,900 in the year to October 2023, the highest on record for an annual period.
And just for fun - the sporting highlight of 2023 was undoubtedly the Warriors NRL top four finish, which saw the team play in a preliminary final against the Brisbane Broncos. Before this year, when did the Warriors last play in a preliminary final?
In 2011 the Warriors played a preliminary final in Melbourne against the Storm. They won, which took them to their second NRL Grand Final appearance, which they lost to Manly. Encouragingly, 2024 looks to be our year.
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