How long do solar panels last and can you recycle them?
Then you can work out how long you will get free electricity after they've paid for themselves.
The good news is that they last a long time, typically around 30 years, according to UK fitter Glow Green.
Panels typically come with a warranty of 25 years, meaning that you should expect at least this amount of use from them, assuming you follow the conditions of the warranty.
What does the warranty for solar panels cover?
The warranty for solar panels typically covers you against any manufacturing defects and major drops in performance.
The first is rather obvious – if the panels stop working properly because of faults in the manufacturing, the panels will be fixed or replaced free of charge.
The second part requires a bit of explaining. Solar panels degrade, albeit slowly, over the course of their lives.
Even after 30 years the best solar panels will still push out 90 per cent of the power they generated when new.
If their output is below this, you may get a repair or replacement.
In short, most panels should still be generating 90 per cent of their advertised output after 30 years.
How do I know if my solar panels have stopped working?
A noticeable drop in output is your best clue that all is not well, and you will see that in higher bills and lower payments for the power you sell to the grid. It is unlikely that power output will drop to zero because of faulty panels unless something has fallen on them. If your output collapses, your inverter or another key part of the system may be at fault.
What should I do with my solar panels after 30 years?
Probably nothing. You are likely to still get a decent amount of power from them and, so long as they are safely secured to your roof, they don't need to be touched.
That being said, the rate of improvement in solar panels is high, and after 30 years of development, you might find that far more power can be delivered for the same roof space and it may be cost-effective to scrap them and replace them with new models.
Or, power could be a lot cheaper to buy from the grid and new panels might make little sense. It is hard to peer that far into the future, other than knowing that you will still need electric power.
Either way, you will have had 30 years of use from them, if not longer. Solar panel efficiency has seen a dramatic rise since the technology's inception, improving from about 6% in the 1950s to over 22% for the best commercial panels in 2025, with laboratory cells exceeding 47% efficiency. This tenfold increase in efficiency has been a key driver in making solar energy a mainstream, cost-effective renewable power source.
Can you recycle solar panels?
Yes. Solar panels are covered under the EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE regulations), even since Brexit. WEEE regulations mandate the recycling of certain types of electronic goods in the UK at the end of their life. Much of a solar panel is glass and aluminium, which are readily recyclable. The silicon, plastic and other metals can also largely be recycled.
In fact, the IEA reports that 80–95% of a solar panel's materials can be recovered and reused. However, recycled solar panels in the UK are unlikely to be turned into new panels because solar panels aren't currently manufactured here. Most are made in China.
But the components can be made into other things like glass for cars.
Should I insure my panels?
Yes. The warranty covers you if the solar panels are defective or don't deliver the power output you have been promised, but if a tree falls on them the manufacturer will not cover their replacement.
Most home insurance policies now cover solar panels, so make sure to check that yours does too, and to tell your home insurer that you have them.
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Auto Express
42 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Hyundai Inster vs BYD Dolphin Surf: cool urban EVs go wheel-to-wheel for the crown
Barely 12 months ago, the chances of getting your hands on a small electric car were pretty slim. One or two contenders were around, but more choice at this end of the market – especially where simple, clean EV powertrains designed for urban use make the most sense – will always be welcome. Advertisement - Article continues below Two such options have arrived recently: one from a brand that's in a fantastic run of form, the other from a manufacturer that has burst onto the UK market and introduced a range that grows more comprehensive by the month. Hyundai has been one of the best car makers this decade, with its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric both winning our New Car Awards Car of the Year crown in the past five years. Its latest electric car is significantly smaller than either of those champions, but not when it comes to personality; the Inster is a quirky-looking electric vehicle that stands out even among some very distinctive new rivals. Here, it faces off against BYD's Dolphin Surf. The brand's arrival in the UK market has been largely promising, but so far its cars have never quite hit the highs to top their class. Could its smallest and cheapest contender yet be about to change all of that? Model: Hyundai Inster 02 Price: £26,755 Powertrain: 49kWh battery, 1x e-motor, 113bhp 0-62mph: 10.6 seconds Test efficiency: 3.8 miles/kWh Official range: 223 miles Annual VED: £195 The Inster is the smallest member of Hyundai's EV line-up, arriving just before the firm's largest EV offering, the Ioniq 9. This little-and-large pairing bring the total number of models to five, giving buyers a very comprehensive range to choose from. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Its size will no doubt make the Inster an ideal choice as the second vehicle in a two-car family, although alongside some of its similarly sized rivals, the prices look a touch high, ranging from £23,505 to £28,755. In 02 trim, as tested here, it costs £26,755. There aren't many cars on sale measuring just 3.8 metres long that offer up so much space inside, and the clever details which allow that to happen start right at the front of the Hyundai Inster's cabin. As with the larger Ioniq 5, the Inster has a column-mounted shifter that allows more space to be freed up between the front seats. Storage space is mounted either on the tall dash area or, in the case of the cup-holders, sitting in an upholstered section integrated between the front seats. We think the sweet spot in the Inster range is the 02 model, giving the best balance between value and standard equipment. At almost 27 grand, it's still pricey, but it makes more sense than the Inster Cross. In addition to its chunky SUV-inspired looks, this brings a sunroof, a surround-view monitor and extra driver- assistance tech, but costs a full £2,000 more than the 02. At that point, it's bringing the Inster's price very near to £29,000, which draws it very close to significantly more substantial cars. Model: BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort Price: £23,950 Powertrain: 43kWh battery, 1x e-motor, 154bhp 0-62mph: 9.1 seconds Test efficiency: 3.9 miles/kWh Official range: 193 miles Annual VED: £195 BYD has adopted an aquatic theme for most of its car names so far. In other markets, this newcomer is known as the Seagull, but that wasn't fancied in the UK. Instead, it's called the Dolphin Surf – and not to be confused with the slightly larger Dolphin compact EV. The Surf is priced very keenly, starting from £18,650, but that buys a model with both a relatively small 30kWh battery and a modest 87bhp power output. The version we're testing here, with a 43.2kWh pack and 154bhp, costs £23,950. Nobody can accuse the Dolphin Surf of being short of driver-assist tech, because adaptive cruise control, emergency lane-keep assist and traffic-sign recognition are all standard. There's also a driver-monitoring system fitted on all cars – and it's one of the worst we've had the displeasure of using. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Peering around an approaching corner, a lingering look in one of the mirrors, looking just beyond the bonnet line for an upcoming speed bump; these are just some of the situations that caused the BYD to bark 'Keep eyes on road!' at us when on the move. Even though this is BYD's cheapest car in the UK, there's been no skimping on the eye-catching tech. Just as with its larger siblings, the Dolphin Surf gets a rotating touchscreen. At the push of a button (either on the steering wheel or the 10.1-inch display itself), the screen electrically rotates from a landscape to a portrait layout. It may impress your mates for a moment or two, but beyond that, it's a bit of a gimmick – especially when the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems that most drivers will use only work in landscape mode. Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . For such small cars, this pair ride with remarkable compliance, easily making them feel grown up enough to live with every day. The BYD's tiny turning circle makes it great to drive in town, but its steering response and feedback have plenty of room for improvement. The Hyundai's natural-feeling steering makes it more fun to drive than the BYD, but the Dolphin Surf is quieter at motorway speeds. When it comes to battery capacity, the Inster steals a march on its rival with a 49kWh unit – 5.8kWh more than the BYD. However, the Dolphin Surf's electric motor delivers more performance. Figures of 154bhp and 220Nm beat the Hyundai by a significant 41bhp and 73Nm, so even though the BYD is the heavier car, it still accelerates from 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds, 1.5 seconds quicker than the Inster. In our hands, the Dolphin Surf proved to be the more efficient of this pair – if only just – achieving 3.9 miles/kWh to the Inster's 3.8 miles/kWh figure. Thanks to its larger battery, the Hyundai can travel further on a single charge, though; when we tested both models until they ran out of charge, the Hyundai covered 184 miles before it reached zero, while the BYD managed just 168 miles. The Inster lets drivers choose between vast interior space or a decent boot, thanks to a sliding rear bench. With that in its rearmost position, knee and head room are superb, but the boot is a modest 238 litres. With the bench moved forward, there's 351 litres, but knee room drops behind the BYD and its 308-litre boot. Given that the Hyundai is smaller than its rival on the outside, its packaging is very impressive. Blind-spot monitoring is only offered on the top-spec Inster Cross, but other versions get lane-keep and lane-follow assist as standard. The on-board safety tech contributed to the Hyundai's four-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2025. The body hasn't evaluated the Dolphin Surf yet, but every BYD tested by NCAP so far has got a maximum five-star rating, which bodes well for the brand's smallest car. Hyundai finished 20th out of 31 in our 2025 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey for brands – not outstanding, but largely consistent with what the Korean firm achieved in 2024. BYD's first showing in our survey wasn't a strong one; it beat only MG on the way to 30th place. At least both marques here provide strong warranties, with Hyundai owners getting five years' cover and BYD drivers six years'. Most of what BYD has offered in the UK so far has been competent yet fairly unremarkable, but the Dolphin Surf is its best offering yet. In a segment where value really matters, BYD has delivered a competitively priced, well equipped small EV, that blends plenty of performance, interior space and maturity for its asking price. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Character and fun aren't high on its list of qualities, but that won't bother value-focused buyers. An efficient powertrain and a long warranty hold more appeal for those choosing a car with their head. That value gives the BYD the edge over the Hyundai in this contest. Buy a new BYD Dolphin Surf now If we take price out of the equation, then the Hyundai Inster is the superior package in this contest. More spacious, better to drive and boasting a fantastic range for a car of this size, there's a huge amount to appreciate. However, it's not enough to overcome the difference in price between these two models, and value for money plays a big part in the overall result at the smaller, more affordable end of the market. The Inster is a more desirable, characterful product than the BYD Dolphin Surf, so those who can stretch the budget will be getting hold of a cracking small car. Buy a new Hyundai Inster now Our choice Hyundai Inster 02 BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort Price from/price as tested £26,755/£26,755 £23,950/£23,950 Powertrain and performance Powertrain 1x electric motor 1x electric motor Power 113bhp 154bhp Torque 147Nm 220Nm Transmission Single-speed/fwd Single-speed/fwd 0-62mph/top speed 10.6 secs/93mph 9.1 secs/93mphh Usable battery capacity 49kWh 43.2kWh Official range 223 miles 193 miles Test efficiency/range 3.8mi/kWh/184 miles 3.9mi/kWh/168 miles Charging 85kW (10-80% in 30 mins) 85kW (10-80% in 30 mins) Dimensions Length/wheelbase 3,825/2,580mm 3,990/2,500mm Width/height 1,610/1,610mm 1,720/1,590mm Rear knee room 694-907mm 640-862mm Rear headroom/elbow room 941/1,312mm 890/1,316mm Boot space (seats up/down) 238-351/1,059 litres 308/1,037 litres Boot length/width 510/958mm 561/745mm Boot lip height 764mm 713mm Kerbweight/towing weight 1,325kg 1,390kg Turning circle 10.6 metres 9.9 metres Costs/ownership Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000 miles) £11,275/42.14% £10,200/42.59% Depreciation £15,480 £13,750 Insurance group/quote/VED 23/£658/£195 19/£732/£195 Three-year service cost £312 £0 (five years) Annual tax liability std/higher rate £160/£320 £143/£287 Annual fuel cost (10,000 miles) £684 £660 Basic warranty/recovery 5yrs (unlimited miles)/1yr 6yrs (94k miles)/4yrs Driver Power manufacturer position 20th 30th NCAP Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 70/81/70/67/4 _ (2025) TBC Equipment Metallic paint/wheel size £600/17 inch £650/16 inch Parking sensors/camera F&r/yes F&r/360-degree Spare wheel/Isofix points Repair kit/two Repair kit/three Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate Yes/no Yes/no Leather/heated seats No/yes Artificial/yes Screen size/digital dashboard 10.25 inch/yes 10.1 inch/yes Climate control/panoramic sunroof Yes/no Yes/no USBs/wireless charging Three/yes Two/yes Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Wired/wired Yes/yes Blind-spot warning/head-up display No/no Yes/yes Adaptive cruise/steering assist Yes/no Yes/yes Buyers can add the Tech Pack (£500) that includes a three-pin plug socket for powering accessories, plus a digital key which lets users lock and unlock the car with their smartphone. A £500 black contrast roof is an option. There aren't any options for Surf buyers; gaining more kit means spending more cash on a higher trim level. There are only four colours available, but at least the retina-burning luminous 'Lime Green' is fairly cheerful. Looking for your next car? You can now search our nationwide dealer network for a choice of great cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... Find a car with the experts Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed Nine brands go head to head in our annual test, but which one should you put on your car? Product group tests 13 Aug 2025 New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price Chinese newcomer's first electric SUV is also a rival to the award-winning Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Mid-size SUV will end the four-year wait for a new JLR model and our exclusive images preview how it could look
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Samsung Z Flip 7 review: I was too young for the original flip-phone era - but I'm totally converted with this retro revival
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more These relics might have a soft spot in the hearts of many tech fans, but I'm ashamed to say I was simply too young to enjoy the first flip-phone era. However, even without the benefit of rose-tinted nostalgia, I've been totally converted by this retro rival. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung 's latest iteration of the Z Flip series, and joins the book-like Galaxy Fold 7 as one of the company's two flagship foldables. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available in a choice of three colours - Blue Shadow, Jetblack, and Coralred - and costs £1,049 or £1,149 depending on the storage option. Its main selling point is the 'clamshell' folding design, which lets you snap the handset closed into a package small enough to slip into your pocket. While it might not be as much of a game-changer as the Galaxy Fold 7, Samsung has succeeded in making a flip-phone that is simply great fun to use. Whether it was sat, neatly folded on my desk or flipped open to reveal the gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 mixes form and function to great effect. An average battery and middling cameras might be a concern for some, but if there's been a flip-phone-shaped hole in your life since the 2000s, this could be the device to fill it. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Our verdict Rating: Although it isn't perfect, Samsung has finally offered a folding phone that feels worth the extra cost compared to slab phones. Taking one of the biggest displays available on a Samsung phone and folding it down to a pocket-sized square isn't just great fun; it really enhances the phone's practicality. The only thing that holds the Galaxy Z Flip 7 back is the less-than-spectacular battery life and camera options that feel a little weak for a phone of this price. However, while I can't say that this is the right phone for everyone, I simply adore Samsung's refreshing modern take on the flip-phone. How we test our phones When we test phones, we make sure to put them through their paces in as many real-world environments as possible. That means seeing how they work at home, in the office, and out in public for all the situations your device needs to handle. We evaluate devices based on their hardware, software, and overall appeal - testing everything from camera quality and battery life to how easy they are to type with. Each phone is tested for at least a week, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make an informed decision. Why trust us? Wiliam Hunter is a science and technology reporter at MailOnline and has been testing and reviewing products for two years. He completed a master's degree in Newspaper Journalism at City University London in 2022. Design Unfolded, the device is 6.56 inches tall by 2.96 inches wide and just 6.5mm thick. That puts it on the larger and thinner end for most smartphones, coming in a little taller and slimmer than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. But when the phone is closed, you're left with a neat little block measuring just 3.36 inches by 2.96 inches. In this form, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is pretty chunky at 13.7 mm thick and weighing 188 grams, but I really don't mind the extra heft. The device feels reassuringly solid, fitting nicely into the palm of your hand or sitting stably on a table. Despite the thickness, the design is so compact that there were times when I honestly forgot it was in my pocket. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also looks fantastic. Perhaps I've spent too long looking at smartphones, but to me, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is absolutely adorable. Compared to the ocean of identical metal and glass slabs on the market, this compact foldable is, simply put, cute. The front display is a nearly square 4.1-inch display that, in a colossal improvement over the Galaxy Z Flip 6, wraps around the two small cameras. In its folded form, the Galaxy Z Flip 7's front screen is pleasantly reminiscent of my beloved 2010s tech favourites, the Tamagotchi and iPod Nano 6. We received our review model in the colour Blue Shadow, which looks stunning, but the vibrant Coralred also looks like an extremely fun alternative. Display Compared to the previous Galaxy Z Flip 6, this updated model has bigger screens both inside and out. On the outside, the display has grown from 3.6 inches to 4.1 inches, which really makes a noticeable difference. Considering you can't use most apps from this outer display, the screen quality is almost unnecessarily good. It's a Super AMOLED with a variable refresh rate of 60-120Hz and extremely high peak brightness of 2,600 nits, coupled with Samsung's Vision Booster to improve outdoor viewing. Inside, there is a 6.9-inch display compared to the 6.7-inch display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. That gives the Galaxy Z Flip the same screen size as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and an even bigger display than the Google Pixel 9 XL. This inner screen is a Super AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz and the same peak brightness of 2,600 nits. During testing, I found that both screens were extremely bright, colourful, and clear. The slightly larger inner display was a real bonus, especially for typing out emails or watching videos on YouTube. The inner screen is a bit more reflective due to the flexible material and smudges a lot, which can make it a little difficult to use outdoors. However, the extra brightness usually makes up for any difficulties. The crease, an unavoidable feature of folding phones, is just about visible when the screen is off but practically disappears whenever the display is in use. I also noticed that the crease seems to show up more in pictures than it does to the naked eye, so don't be too put off by how it might look in images online. Performance The Galaxy Z Flip 7's one major deviation from other Samsung models is that it comes with Samsung's own Exynos 2500 processor. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Motorola Razr Ultra, meanwhile, both ship with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Samsung says that this chipset has just as much power as the Snapdragon, and, based on our testing, there's no reason to doubt that. The Z Flip 7 allows you to run two apps at the same time, with the option to add a third as an overlay, and manages this without any hint of juddering. However, the phone does become quite warm during extended periods of high-intensity use. Samsung has increased the battery size from 4,000mAh on the Z Flip 6 to 4,300mAh on the Z Flip 7. That's a fairly big increase and only a little shy of the 4,400 mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung says that this can deliver 31 hours of video playback at 720p for content stored locally on the phone. Battery life was by no means terrible, but for the price, I'd like to see something a little more impressive - especially considering that the smaller Google Pixel 9 Pro packs a 4,700 mAh battery. In our testing, I found that the phone easily lasted a full day of regular use, but could dip worryingly low if I was streaming a lot of content or creating a mobile hotspot on a long train journey. Certainly not enough to be a deal-breaker for most people, but if you want that extra peace of mind that comes with a massive battery life, it's something to consider. In terms of day-to-day use, the screen is more than large enough to make typing comfortable and easy for emails and texts. Calls sounded crystal clear thanks to the Galaxy Z Flip 7's excellent in-built speakers, and I found that the device had excellent network connectivity. Camera The cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 are probably one of its weakest points. Samsung has kept the 50 megapixel main camera and 12 megapixel ultrawide from the Z Flip 6, along with a 10 megapixel inner selfie camera. The cameras are absolutely fine for most people, but they're nothing too exciting. The big change is that the phone now packs Samsung's latest ProVisualEngine, which digitally analyses and enhances your photos. Generally, photos from the Z Flip 7 look surprisingly good for their specs and capture a great amount of detail. Side by side with a picture from the Fold 7's 200 megapixel main camera, the difference isn't that noticeable. The Z Flip 7's cameras are nothing too exciting, but will be more than good enough for most regular users to get some nice photos. Picture taken on the Z Flip 7 Although the 10 megapixel selfie camera takes perfectly fine photos, a great feature of the Z Flip 7 is that you never have to use it. You can simply open the camera app while the phone is still folded, using the front display as your preview and take a photo or video with the 50 megapixel main camera. In addition to being an extremely neat party trick, this is a great way to easily get some crisp-looking shots. Software The Galaxy Flip 7 is one of the first phones to ship with Android 16 and runs on Samsung's OneUI 8. That gives you plenty of great features, such as the Now bar, which provides updates on ongoing activities like sports scores, music playback, and timers. Samsung also has some of the best AI features on any smartphone at the moment, with its own in-house tools and access to Google's AI services. That gives you access to writing, image editing, transcription, and translation services, which are simple and easy to use. I had a great time playing with Samsung's AI picture editing tools, turning my crude doodles into photorealistic edits or turning my cat into a cute cartoon. Google services include the Gemini chatbot, which lets you ask questions about what's happening on screen, and Circle to Search. Unusually, Gemini struggled to identify buildings in a few photos during testing - despite having performed well on this task when running on the Z Fold 7. For example, when shown a picture of the Design Museum, the AI insisted that it was the Francis Crick Institute building in Cambridge, even telling me that a sign 'clearly' stated that this was the case. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also has plenty of tools that you can use on the outer screen. You can view notifications, respond to messages, set timers, access the voice recorder and use a few other widgets. I found being able to check my shopping list without needing to open the phone or look for the app was really useful. Google Gemini really struggled to identify the Design Museum, London, repeatedly telling me that it was the Francis Crick Institute. The AI even claimed that there was a sign in the picture saying that this was the case Some apps like Spotify and WhatsApp also have their widgets that you can use from the outside screen. To use other apps on the cover screen, you need to download Samsung's MultiStar plugin from the Galaxy Store. This isn't difficult to do, but it really should be a default feature from the start. Price Starting at £1,049, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a bit more expensive than the Galaxy S25+ at £999 and the Google Pixel 9 at £799. However, it still comes in slightly cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro Max at £1,199. For a foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is fairly middle of the road in terms of price. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs £1,799 and the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra costs £1,099.
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
What happened when we let Times readers bet $10,000 on stocks
If you could go back in time to the day of the 2024 US election — armed with $10,000 and everything you know now — how much money could you make in the stock market? That is the challenge we set Times readers last week. Buy and sell any stock in the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100 and jump forward in time, watching how the actions of the Trump administration have affected global markets. You can play it here. So, how did readers get on as stock market traders? The average player managed to turn their $10,000 investment into about $14,000 over the eight simulated months, meaning that they generated $4,000 profit — a return of 40 per cent. This is a pretty good return, even if readers knew exactly what would happen: $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 would have returned $10,787, and the same in the FTSE 100 would have resulted in $11,095 — although $10,000 in bitcoin, turning into $16,931, would have beaten the lot. Trump's tariffs resulted in a frenzy of trading, helping Barclays to a 23 per cent jump in pre-tax profits in the first half of the year. There are, of course, some objectively 'better' stocks to pick. The US AI firm Palantir, co-founded by the Trump ally Peter Thiel, has more than tripled its value since the election. Other US AI firms and computer chip manufacturers (such as Super Micro Computer Inc and Jabil Inc) have also experienced strong growth, as well as companies in AI adjacent sectors, particularly energy stocks such as the General Electrics power spin-off GE Vernova Inc, which has benefited from increased demand from AI data centres. • The cheap and easy way to invest (without the risk) A significant number of readers wisely put all their money into Palantir, yielding returns of 200 per cent. But the highest profits were for those who traded repeatedly at optimum times. Only two players turned their $10,000 into more than $100,000; at the time of writing, the top score was an eye-watering $441,681. The highest possible score, buying the best performing stock day after day, was well over a trillion dollars. Compounding returns, to paraphrase Albert Einstein, really are the eighth wonder of the world. For data privacy reasons, we don't know which stocks the top performer picked. However, on average, those who played did not opt for high-risk, high-reward US tech stocks. In fact, most readers put their money into recognisable UK companies that had a track record of doing well. Readers rightly focused on UK defence stocks such as Rolls-Royce, BAE and also Babcock, the best performing FTSE 100 company during the period. All those stocks boomed after Trump's realignment of global defence. • Bull or bear? Find out what kind of investor you are Other top performers picked out by readers included Airtel Africa, International Airlines Group (which owns British Airways) and the mining firm Fresnillo. For the FTSE at least, readers had a good sense of where the gains have been, with most of the ten best-performing stocks over the period being in the most-bought list. The above looks at which stocks had the most money invested. But the list of stocks that were bought and sold the most — that is, with the highest number of trades — shows a preference towards US growth firms. Top of this list is Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange, and Elon Musk's Tesla, both of which have share prices inherently tied to unpredictable and volatile entities. Readers also explored options with oil and steel stocks. Due to tariff changes, these companies were particularly volatile. Many readers bought BP, others looked at Chevron or the US steel manufacturer Steel Dynamics. There were good profits to be had with all these, but you'd need to buy and sell at specific times to really make a good profit. • I want to invest in Europe's comeback. Where do I start? These lists also feature unexpected appearances from 3M, 3i Group, AES Corporation and APA Corporation. Theses companies didn't perform particularly well over the period and their inclusion is likely to be due to their names appearing at the top alphabetically, rather than being selected as part of a broader investment strategy.
