May Performance Dashboard
In stark contrast to the strong performance during the first four months of 2019, U.S. equities suffered in May as a result of trade tensions between the U.S. and China along with slowing global growth concerns. The S&P 500® lost 6%, while the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® lost 8% and 9%, respectively. The VIX® ended the month at 18.7, still surprisingly low by historical standards. The market struck a defensive tone, with Low Volatility taking the [...]
The Uncommon Average
The US stock market has delivered an average annual return of around 10% since 1926.[1] But short-term results may vary, and in any given period stock returns can be positive, negative, or flat. When setting expectations, it’s helpful to see the range of outcomes experienced by investors historically. For example, how often have the stock market’s annual returns actually aligned with its long-term average? Exhibit 1 shows calendar year returns for the S&P 500 Index [...]
Understanding how mutual funds work could save you a ton of money in the long run!
Investors should get to know the 18.7 Trillion Dollar industry of mutual funds! Check out this video and get the basics on mutual funds!
April Performance Dashboard
U.S. equities gained steam in April, powered by positive earnings, potential progress in U.S./China trade talks, and recent dovish sentiment from the Fed. The S&P 500®, the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® all gained 4%, and the VIX® declined to 13.12. All U.S. equity factors rose in April, with High Beta and Enhanced Value taking the lead. Across sectors, Financials and Communication Services were the top performers, up 9% and 7%, respectively, while [...]
The Index Bogeyman
Over the last several years, index funds have received increased attention from investors and the financial media. Some have even made claims that the increased usage of index funds may be distorting market prices. For many, this argument hinges on the premise that indexing reduces the efficacy of price discovery. If index funds are becoming increasingly popular and investors are “blindly” buying an index’s underlying holdings, sufficient price discovery may not be happening in the [...]
QUARTERLY MARKET REVIEW – Q1 2019
Click on the link below for a detailed analysis of quarterly performance of the global equity and fixed income markets. CLICK HERE TO READ THE 1ST QUARTER 2019- QUARTERLY MARKET REVIEW
