Shares manifesto 'misleading'

The data, released last week by Camelot Financial Group, showed investors with a portfolio of shares were more than twice better off than those who focused solely on property.

The data said investors experienced 11.2% growth in equities compared to a 9.2%growth in property returns from a $10,000 investment made between 1971 and the end of 2011.

Alexander said that was not quite right.

“You see the calculation for the return on shares was based on the NZSX50. This index covers only big companies and immediately excludes failures (they drop out of the index), while capturing the rising winners. The calculation for returns on housing covered every house in the country. The measures are not comparable.”