Our share tips ended November in a festive mood, with all four investment portfolios recording useful rises when we carried our review of progress on Wednesday.
Even our lacklustre 2014 selections joined in the fun with a 2.3% gain enabling them to replace previous losses with a small overall profit.
Some 16 of our 21 current tips moved higher as dealers prepared their books for a traditional "Santa rally" in the stock market over the coming weeks.
The gainers were led by transport group Wincanton, which rose more than 10 % over the week as brokers pencilled in hopes of higher profits as a result of tumbling diesel prices. Digital radio group Sepura and Carr's Milling Industries were other recent tips to add 5% or more following recent trading news.
Some of our more established recommendations also improved, with safety equipment group Halma finally reaching 100% appreciation, and global catering giant Compass edging closer to the same figure with 96.8% growth.
The biggest disappointment was a slump in Royal Mail shares after internet giant Amazon set up its own delivery service, though we continue to believe they represent good value because of their high dividends and may yet surprise with bumper trading over Christmas.
Belhaven brewery group Greene King was another notable faller after Westminster moved to loosen the beer tie for its tenants, although it will be at least two years before anything actually happens.
Alternative energy supplier Infinis also slipped back as the shares began trading without the benefit of a hefty dividend.
But the overall strength of the market saw the 2013 portfolio add 1.2% over the week and the 2012 list improved a further 2%.
The longstanding 2011 portfolio gained 2.2%, though we accept that it is now highly unlikely that it will achieve our target of 100% growth by the end of the year.
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