The United States has been the best performing market in 2021, with the S&P 500 index up more than 25% this year.

The NZX 50 hasn’t risen at all in 2021, it actually fell slightly, making for the first annual decline since 2011.

In November, the headline US inflation rate increased to the highest level since 1982, when Ronald Reagan was President.

Germany held an election in 2021, and this was significant as it marked the end of Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure as Chancellor.

Microsoft is retiring Internet Explorer in 2022, after more than 25 years, in favour of Microsoft Edge.

In 2021, the Reserve Bank increased the OCR for the first time since 2014, which saw it finish the year at 0.75%. More increases are expected in 2022.

All of the “FAANGs” produced solid gains in 2021, although Google (Alphabet) was the strongest with a return of more than 70% (followed by Apple with a 33% rise).

Skellerup, maker of Red Band gumboots, was the top performer in the NZX 50 in 2021, with a stellar return of more than 75%.

House prices were strong across the board in 2021, although the picturesque Palmerston North was one of the standout regions with a 36.5% increase.

Oil prices rallied more than 50% in 2021, rebounding from heavy falls in 2020 during the worst of the pandemic.