Watch now: year in review with Ross Greenwood

There's little doubt that 2008 is one year that market watchers and investors the world over would rather forget.

If you're soon to retire, we could certainly forget those negative super returns and for those living in the US, it's been a year of shocking news and the world's largest economy shuddered to a halt amid the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression.

In Australia, meanwhile, interest rates, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, the fall of Babcock and Brown and the deaded 'r' word dominated the agenda.

Nine Network finance editor Ross Greenwood brings you the highlights, lowlights and major stories from an unforgettable year.