Rio Tinto (RIO) was the overall best performing stock taking in a 17.9 percent increase. Among the best performing stocks for the past week (week 45 of 2007) on the Australian sharemarket were a mixture of mining, technology and farming products manufacturers: Rio Tinto (RIO), Newcrest (NCM), Computershare (CPU), Bolnisi Gold (BSG), Nufarm (NUF). The above stocks secured gains higher than 7.5 percent at the end of the trading week.

Rio Tinto, a world leader in exploring, mining and processing mineral resources was the best performing stock securing the first place in the ASX 100 and ASX 200 indices, seeing 17.9 percent rise or $19.94 and closing at $13.90. Newcrest, a leading international gold company and one of the world's lowest cost gold producers was at the second position adding $3.15, increased by 9.6 percent and closing at $35.85. The second runner up was Computershare, one of the world largest share registry and a leading provider of financial market services and technology to the global securities industry, increasing by 66 cents and closing at $9.41 (+7.5%). On the ASX 200 index, Rio Tinto secured the first place followed by Bolnisi Gold, one of the world’s largest primary silver and low cost gold producers, closing at $3.09 and adding 34 cents (+12.3%). Nufarm, a manufacturer of crop protection products with an extensive network of regional service centers was at third position of ASX 200 index adding 1 dollars and 64 cents, increased by 10.5 percent and closing at $17.24. Nufarm was followed by Macmahon Holdings (MAH) adding 17 cents, increasing 10.1% and closing at $1.85.