JD SPORTS and Aveva, which began 2019 on the FTSE 250, were the FTSE 100's best performers this year with growth of 130 per cent and 94.8 per cent respectively.

The retailer and the software specialist both generated strong growth throughout the year, defying the shortcomings in the global economy in a year in which corporate earnings growth has been notoriously elusive.

The London Stock Exchange was the third best performer, with growth of 82.3 per cent, whilst Next and Barratt Developments filled out the rest of the top five, according to figures from AJ Bell.

However, it was a year to forget for blue chip behemoths Centrica, Imperial Brands and BT, which were among the year's worst performers, with shares slipping 15.6, 12, and 10.9 and per cent respectively.

Healthcare chain NMC Health had the dubious honour of seeing shares fall the most in 2019, by 34.5 per cent.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The FTSE 100 may have confounded doubters with a 17.2 per cent return in 2019, despite concerns over weak economic growth, Brexit and the General Election."

STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE IN 2019 TOP 5 JD Sports+130% Aveva +94.8% London Stock Exchange +82.3% Next +75.2% Barratt Developments +72.1% BOTTOM 5 NMC Health -34.5% Fresnillo -28.2% Pearson -26.4% Centrica -15.6% Imperial Brands -12% Source: AJ Bell

(c) 2019 City A.M., source Newspaper