The first chart below shows the behavior of Australia's All Ordinaries since the turn of the century. The index is up 9.82% in 2013 at 5,122.70 as of yesterday's close, which puts it pleasantly above the interim highs in 2010 and 2011, which also pierced the 5,000 level.
How does this index compare with the eight world markets in my weekly updates? The chart below has the latest "gang of eight" update, through Friday's close, with the AORD added (the bold red line).
Since the arbitrary start date of Monday, March 9 2009, which was a trough for several world indexes (the AORD's was the Friday before), Australia's benchmark index is now positioned in the middle of the pack and in fourth place in the percentage below its interim high at the end of April. The top five, of course, is a tight race for the lead. The overlay chart is through Friday's close and shows the All Ordinaires at 1.22% off its interim high. But through yesterday's close, its now only 0.89% below that interim high.