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The so-called crypto-currency, which exists only on computers and has no central bank to support it, has soared by more than 80 per cent this year. This means it has grown four times faster than the world’s two best performing hard currencies, the Russian ruble and Brazilian real. Bitcoin ended Friday trading at around $780 (£625), up from $430 at the start of the year, and has soared after being launched by a small group of hackers in 2009.

Bitcoin is beyond the reach of politicians Charles Purdy

Five years ago it traded at just $3.91, which means it has risen an incredible 19,849 per cent since then, but with volatility along the way. The currency, which can be bought via online exchanges and platforms, is made by computers solving a set of complex problems and has a finite supply of 21million. Charles Purdy, director of Smart Currency Exchange, said Bitcoin supporters claim this means it cannot be devalued by central banks printing money: “It is beyond the reach of politicians, which could make it a store of value in volatile times.”

GETTY Bitcoin is set to be the best performer currency in 2016

______________________________________________________________________ Miners dig deep to get out of rut The mining sector is this year’s big winner as it showed its resourceful nature to recover from a disastrous 2015. Mining giant Anglo American is up 300 per cent this year and fellow miner Glencore climbed more than 200 per cent, making them the two fastest risers on the FTSE 100 in 2016. The next three biggest risers are also mining stocks, with BHP Billiton up 78 per cent, Fresnillo up 67 per cent and Rio Tinto climbing 60 per cent. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, which collated the figures, said this was partly a cyclical bounce after last year’s sell-off: “Miners have also engaged in a bit of self-help by cutting back on expenditure and dividends to see them through the tough times.” He said the commodity price recovery may continue in 2017, helped by fiscal stimulus from the US: “However, commodities have had a pretty good run in 2016 and that is going to take some beating.”

GETTY The mining sector has recovered from a disastrous 2015

______________________________________________________________________ Capita reflects on difficult year It has been a tough year for Capita Group, which looks set to end 2016 as the worst performing stock on the FTSE 100. The outsourcing specialist has seen its share price crash 60 per cent to a 10-year low, after issuing two profit warnings in three months. On Friday the stock traded at 490p, less than half its 52-week high of 1,236p. Capita says its clients are spending less on training and employee benefits, and delaying new technology plans, with Brexit uncertainty partly to blame.

GETTY Capita Group looks set to end 2016 as the worst performing stock on the FTSE 100