Monkey 1 climbs to the top while Monkey 2 cuts losses

Monkey 1 rules! Its portfolio comprising 10 randomly-selected stocks from the BSE 100 topped the investment charts after it pocketed a 9.9 percent gain for the 33 weeks since 19 August, the date when the portfolio was created.Yes Bank was the top performer (there seems to be no stopping this stock), as its value improved by a hefty 42 percent.

Following closely behind Monkey portfolio 1 was the Nifty, which put on 9.8 percent over the same period.

The next big gainer was the brokers’ portfolio, consisting of 1 0 stocks selected by stock market experts: it rose 9.3 percent_._ MRF was the top gainer, surging by a whopping 70 percent. Edging in next was the Sensex with an 8.3 percent gain.

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Lying at the bottom of the pile was Monkey portfolio 2, consisting of 10 randomly picked stocks from the BSE 500, which fell by 4.6 percent_._But before you jump in to say “So, what’s new”?, it’s worth noting that the portfolio has at least managed to halve its losses. Last week, it was down 8.1 percent.

(See all three above mentioned tables here .)

Aban Offshore was the best performer of the sagging portfolio, up 30 percent, while the villain was KSK Ventures, which shed 38 percent.

[caption id=“attachment_269044” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Following closely behind Monkey portfolio 1 was the Nifty, which put on 9.8 percent over the same period.”]  [/caption]

Still, it wasn’t a complete wash-out for Monkey 2 because for the short trading week ending 4 April (Thursday and Friday were holidays because of Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday, respectively), it emerged as the star investor, packing in a 3.8 percent gain. Looks like Monkey 2’s sacrificial offering – and chanting – to Hanuman,which Firstpost reported last week, is having a salubrious effect.

In comparison, the broker’s portfolio climbed 1.6 percent, while Monkey portfolio 1 added 1.4 percent.The Sensex and Nifty were the worst performers, posting marginal gains of 0.5 percent each.

To be sure, the feud between Monkey 2 and the brokers is intensifying. Monkey 2 continues to insist that the brokers are rigging his portfolio’s stocks to ensure he loses all the time; the brokers, however, deny doing any such thing. Secretly, they’re worried about Monkey 2’s improving performance, and are wondering if they should seek some divine blessings as well.

Sources also said that in retaliation to Monkey 2 placing banana peels in front of some of the brokers’ offices recently, a gang of brokers have generously paid the waitstaff at a local restaurant to ensure that Monkey2’s banana smoothies, his favourite drink, contain salt instead of sugar from now on.

Ah well, we’ll see where this getting-hotter-by-the-minute feud leads. Monkey 1, in the meantime, is desperately trying to broker peace between Monkey 2 and the brokers. For now, neither side is listening.

Until next week then!