With investor concerns focused on mounting trade tensions and their adverse effect on economic growth, global stock markets experienced declines of 6% during the month of May. Equity markets ended the month riding their longest losing streak in nearly eight years. Still, returns for global stocks remain in positive territory year-to-date, with solid returns in excess of 9 percent.
Global stock markets continued their impressive advance with gains in excess of 3% during April. With the S&P 500 Index recording its best four-month start in more than 30 years, U.S. stock returns have now reached 18% for the year. Foreign shares also have solid gains of over 13% year-to-date. Global equities have added a remarkable $10 trillion in market value since the start of the year.
The average American between the ages of 22 and 27 with a bachelor’s degree earned $42,000 in 2017, according to the New York Federal Reserve. The typical worker with a high school diploma earned $28,000.
After returning 14% in just three months, U.S. stocks registered their best first quarter in over twenty years and their best overall quarterly performance in nearly a decade. Rebounding from a fourth quarter thrashing, stocks were lifted by the Federal Reserve’s promise to maintain interest rates at current levels.
U.S. stocks advanced 3.5% in February, closing out their best two-month start to a year (+12.4%) in over three decades. After falling 19% from early October through December 24, U.S stocks have now rebounded 20% since Christmas. Smaller companies have led the U.S. markets with 25% gains over this period.
Stocks bounced back after a dismal December to register the best January returns in 30 years. Investors were encouraged by good news from the Federal Reserve, a strong labor market, tepid inflation, and solid corporate profits. Global equities and bonds ended the month with returns of 7.9% and 1.5%, respectively. U.S. stocks have advanced roughly 15% since the lows reached on Christmas Eve. With 41% of the companies in the S&P 500 reporting, corporate profits are on pace to increase by nearly 12%, according to FactSet.
U.S. stocks plummeted over 9% in December and ended down 14% for the quarter. The daily volatility during the quarter was nothing short of remarkable. Market leverage and quantitative trading strategies apparently exacerbated the situation. We saw the worst Christmas Eve decline on record, and it was followed up with the largest one-day point gain in the history of the Dow Industrials.
U.S. stocks plummeted over 9% in December and ended down 14% for the quarter. The daily volatility during the quarter was nothing short of remarkable. Market leverage and quantitative trading strategies apparently exacerbated the situation. We saw the worst Christmas Eve decline on record, and it was followed up with the largest one-day point gain in the history of the Dow Industrials.
After a rocky start to the fourth quarter, global stock markets stabilized in November. U.S. equities advanced by 2%, while foreign shares returned about 1% for the month. Although domestic stocks remain in positive territory year-to-date, investments in foreign companies have experienced double-digit losses.
October was a rough month for investors. Both U.S. and foreign stocks experienced sharp declines, pulling global stock markets down more than 7% for the month.The technology heavy Nasdaq Composite’s decline of more than 9% in October was its worst monthly performance since 2008.
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