The front page of The Age covers the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning that ‘the world will face a “1930s moment” of the kind that brought on the Great Depression, unless money can quickly be found to support nations such as Italy and Spain’.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Fogey Awards for 2011 – the annual ceremony celebrating the characters who add some sugar and spice to the all-too-serious world of investing.

You don’t need to slug it out in a in a suburban shopping centre this silly season. Instead make a beeline to your local bookstore and give your loved ones the gift of knowledge.

More homes unsold means more choice for buyers, meaning sellers will eventually drop their prices – as we’re experiencing right now.

“Where do you want to go on holidays? Let’s book something today”, she said, pointing at the travel agents on our way out. “The internet has killed travel agents”, I grumbled as we walked in…