How time flies. The three months of Sharetrack 100 are nearly over and the competition is drawing to a close with just today's trading left to determine the overall winner.
Last weekend was of course the last opportunity to trade. So for contestants, the die is now cast. But with the performance of most of the leading portfolios riding on a single share, things could still go any way. A Friday afternoon rout of a winning stock - as happened with Elan a few weeks ago - could dash the hopes of even the most confident of competitors.
Week 11 has already seen quite a shake-out at the top of the leaderboard. Andrew Nixon's long dominance of the top of the table - he has held the number one spot since Week Six - has been brought to an end by Kathy Endersen, a financial controller with Pioneer Management Ireland. Mr Nixon has only retreated as far as fifth position, however, and remains a serious contender with his Leeds 5 portfolio valued at just 6 per cent less than the leader's.
Ms Endersen's cheerfully-named portfolio, Gas Crack, increased by more than 14 per cent to over £1.8 million (€2.29 million), boosted by a strong performance from Ovoca Resources. This is the highest valuation recorded to date and an 83 per cent increase on the initial investment.
However, although Ms Endersen is in the top spot overall, she was beaten to the weekly prize of £1,000 and a year's free share dealing yet again. This is the sixth time she made the Weekly Top 10 - and the third time she reached second place on that list - and still the weekly prize eludes her. No such problems for the Kingston family, however, as Prof William Kingston becomes the second contestant to scoop the weekly prize twice. He brings his family's haul to £3,000 as his son Charles has also taken weekly honours in the past.
However, Prof Kingston, who featured regularly in the overall Top 10 throughout the competition, has slipped in the leaderboard rankings to 21st place. Just behind him is Dr Edward Staunton, a strong early performer, who has also lost ground and is now in 23rd place.
Vincent Kennedy, ensconced in second place in Weeks Nine and 10, has slipped to 18th and surrendered the spot to James O'Brien's Midas 11, while Paula Somers has moved into third with her Fish portfolio to give the top of the leaderboard a distinctly female complexion.
The overall winner, who will claim a top prize of £15,000, will be announced next Friday along with the runner-up, who stands to win £5,000. The names of the third-placed contestant, who gets £3,000, and the last weekly prize winner will also be revealed.
