Market Newsletters

In April, US equity indices bounced powerfully up from the lows reached at the end of March, recouping up to 50% of their peak to trough losses (February 19 to March 23). The S&Ps’ 500 finished up 12.35%. The Russell 2000 jumped 13.74% while the Nasdaq continued to do better than all, rising 15.49%.

Internationally, all indices rose but once again less meaningfully ..

March was a month worthy of the record books. Investors suffered massive losses, on a worldwide basis. No significant asset class was spared. The S&Ps’ 500 lost 12.35%. The Russell 2000 went down 19.49%, while the Nasdaq fared a bit better, going down 10.03%. Internationally all indices dropped, often more than their US counterparts as a result of a rising USD (up 3%). The S&P’s EPAC BMI (developed economies) went down 14.05%. Emerging market indices went down from 15% (MSCI EM) to 22% (MSCI Frontier 100).

In February, COVID 19 finally overwhelmed US equity markets. The S&Ps’ 500 lost 8.53%. The Russell 2000 went down 8.67%, while the Nasdaq fared a bit better, going down “only” 6.27%. Internationally all indices dropped, often more than their US counterparts as a result of a rising USD. The S&P’s EPAC BMI (developed economies) went down 9.28%.

US equities finished January with contrasted performances. The S&P’s 500 was down .04%, while the Nasdaq Composite finished up 2.03% over the same period. The Russell 2000, meanwhile, was down a sharp 3.21%. Internationally, all indices were down with the S&P’s EPAC BMI (developed economies) weakening 2.39% and the emerging market MSCI EM index down 4.66%. The threat to global economic growth that the Coronavirus epidemic presents explains all of this negativity.

Equities finished the year exuberantly. The S&P’s 500 rose 3.02% while the US Small Cap index progressed 2.88% and the Nasdaq Composite 3.63%.
Internationally, the USD declined and made it possible for most indices to rise, sometimes spectacularly. The EPAC BMI (developed economies) rose 3.47%.
In emerging markets the MSCI EM raced upward 7.46% while the Frontier 100 Index rose a solid 3.15%.

Equities rose once again in November with US equities, in particular, climbing between 3% and 4% overall. The S&P’s 500 gained 3.63% while the US Small Cap index progressed 4.12% and the Nasdaq Composite 4.64%.

Internationally, the rising USD made it harder for indices to move up as spectacularly. The S&P EPAC BMI (developed economies index) rose only 1.03%. In Emerging markets performance was more contrasted, with the MSCI EM dropping -.14% while the Frontier 100 Index rose a robust 2.77%.

After a difficult start, the month of October turned out to be positive for equities around the world. The S&P’s 500 gained 2.17%. The US Small Cap index rose a bit more with the Russell 2000 progressing 2.63%. Internationally, developed equities did well as the US dollar lost value against major currencies. As a consequence, international markets performed generally better than US markets.

The S&P EPAC BMI (developed economies index) rose 3.76%. Emerging markets equities were up too with the MSCI EM rising a solid 4.22% while the Frontier Index inched up .71%.

September was a positive month for equities around the world. A lessening of trade tensions between the US and China helped. So did the absolute spanking that Boris Johnson received from the UK parliament, thereby reducing the odds of a hard Brexit. That helped European equities outperform their US counterparts.
The S&P’s 500 gained 1.87% in September. The US Small Cap index rose a bit more with the Russell 2000 progressing 2.08%. Internationally, developed equities did well.

In August, the escalation of hostilities between the US and China on trade matters contributed to a sometimes severe negative performance for equity markets around the globe. The S&Ps’ 500 lost 1.58% while the US Small Cap index dropped 4.94%. Internationally, equities declined generally more abruptly. The S&P EPAC BMI (developed markets) shrunk 2.93% during August while emerging markets sunk by 4.88% (MSCI EM).

July saw US equity indices generate positive returns, once again. The S&P’s 500 rose by 1.44%. The Nasdaq Composite added 2.15% and the Russell 2000 (US Small Caps) .58%. Internationally, equities declined overall. This was mostly the result of Brexit-related fears in Europe and a rising USD.
The S&P EPAC BMI (developed markets) declined 1.49% during the month of July while emerging markets shrunk by 1.22% (MSCI EM).

In June, The Federal Reserve Bank (FED) came to the rescue of equity markets once again and propelled them to new highs. The S&P’s 500 rose by 7.05%. The Nasdaq Composite added 7.51% and the Russell 2000 (US Small Caps) 6.87%. It was more of the same with international markets. The S&P EPAC BMI (developed markets) rose 5.57%, emerging markets were up 6.24% (MSCI EM) and frontier markets a lesser 3.90%.

A violent and unexpected setback in the trade negotiations between the US and China sent equities sharply down across the globe in May. The S&P’s 500 dropped 6.35%. The Nasdaq Composite swooned 7.79% while the Russell 2000 (US Small Caps) slumped 7.78%.