Grid will power your portfolio

I HAVE fallen out with my best friend. Rough diamond prices have collapsed more than 20pc in 2015 and mining companies have seen their shares fall by around 70pc on average.

Miner Petra Diamonds promised a maiden dividend and the prospect of finding larger stones, instead its shares have been buried.

This year I am picking National Grid at 937.5p as it should be lower risk. It pays a healthy dividend and has a policy to increase the payment at least in line with retail price index (RPI) inflation.

The company plans to sell its UK gas distribution business and will give the proceeds back to shareholders.

Its growth plan is to expand in the US with the only major risk being potential changes in US energy regulation.