If you'd invested in: Electrocomponents and International Personal Finance

If only...

Electrocomponents (LSE: ECM) distributes electronic components, tools and equipment to engineers in 32 countries. It sells on the internet and through catalogues and trade counters via the brands RS Components and Allied Electrics. Cost savings, an increased number of trading days and favourable exchange rates have led to a strong fourth quarter and the company expects full-year profit to exceed analysts' predictions. Investors have been rewarded with a 93% rise in the share price in the last year.

Be glad you didn't

International Personal Finance (LSE: IPF) provides unsecured consumer loans to people on low and middle incomes in Spain, eastern Europe, Mexico and Australia. Last year was a difficult one for the company trading is down in Mexico and regulatory challenges in Europe have had a negative impact on results. The share price has fallen by more than 40% in the last 12 months.

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Ben studied modern languages at London University's Queen Mary College. After dabbling unhappily in local government finance for a while, he went to work for The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh. The launch of the paper's website, scotsman.com, in the early years of the dotcom craze, saw Ben move online to manage the Business and Motors channels before becoming deputy editor with responsibility for all aspects of online production for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News websites, along with the papers' Edinburgh Festivals website.

Ben joined MoneyWeek as website editor in 2008, just as the Great Financial Crisis was brewing. He has written extensively for the website and magazine, with a particular emphasis on alternative finance and fintech, including blockchain and bitcoin.

As an early adopter of bitcoin, Ben bought when the price was under $200, but went on to spend it all on foolish fripperies.