"Blumberg": Currency winners and losers of 2016

From Brexit to Donald Trump and the worst January ever for the American stock market index S&P 500, the year at the end was anything but calm for investors, according to the New York agency "Bloomberg".

The past year was particularly bad for the currency that bears the name - the pound.

Namely, the Egyptian pound recorded the worst results in 2016, since the authorities in Cairo took a drastic measure by allowing free trading of the pound in an effort to stabilize the economy faced with a shortage of foreign exchange and affected by social unrest.

At the same time, the British pound fell after Brexit and never regained some of its lost value.

On the other hand, the digital currency bitcoin achieved the best results this year, gaining more than 100 percent, as capital controls in some countries increased interest in alternative currencies.

Among currencies issued by governments and central banks, the Russian ruble performed best as the oil market recovered.

Despite recent unrest, Brazil's Ibovespa stock index maintained its leading position in 2016, due to expectations that President Michel Temer will pull the country out of the worst recession in the last 100 years and build political stability, according to "Bloomberg".

The Nigerian stock market, among the world's stock markets, was at the very bottom of the list this year, as it is estimated that the country's economy will experience a drop in GDP this year, the first in more than 20 years, as capital controls deter foreigners from investing in the country. and militant groups blow up gas pipelines.

Although 2015 was a difficult year for raw materials, this year it was almost impossible to see the "red" light on the screen. The price of natural gas has increased by more than 12 percent in the past 60 months, while oil prices have also recovered.

When it comes to bonds, Venezuelan bonds were among the leading investments, which was somewhat surprising, given the social unrest in that country.

The worst results in this regard were recorded by bonds from Mozambique, as that country is faced with a debt crisis and rising inflation.