EXCLUSIVE -- SMALL INVESTOR INDEX
The average individual investor's portfolio rose 2.7 percent in the just-completed third quarter, breaking a six-month losing streak, according to the latest figures from MONEY Magazine's Small Investor Index released on Friday. The third-quarter increase was enough to virtually erase the losses the typical individual investor took during the first two quarters of the year. The biggest gainer during the third quarter was gold, which soared 14.9 percent on fears of higher inflation. Stocks were up 5 percent on average. Bonds eked out an 0.6 percent gain. And yields on money funds and CDs climbed to about 4.5 percent during the quarter. The Small Investor Index is based on a weighted portfolio that reflects the average holdings of individual investors in 10 categories, ranging from stocks to real estate.
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