Investing during times of economic downturn is often challenging for the fearful investor. At the same time, others may look for opportunities. But now is not the time for greed. Now is the time for calculated decision making.
What a difference a year makes! We saw quite a turnaround story in 2019 compared with 2018. Despite escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, Brexit uncertainty, and a slowdown in the global economy, the year progressed in an unexpectedly pleasant fashion. In the second half of the year, global markets soaked up additional stimulus from global central banks and a first phase deal between the United States and China to extend the longest bull market in history. By the end of the year, every major asset class was materially positive.
Global equity markets had modest returns in the third quarter after a stellar first half of the year. Markets traded sideways due to 3 main factors--a slowing global economy, which affected company earnings, rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China, which affected global trade volumes.
(April 2019) What a difference three months make After a near bear market in the final three months of 2018, we have experienced a sharp reversal in global equities during the first quarter of 2019. The stage seems to be set for this year’s rally, with hints to a resolution in the U.S. and Chinese trade...
(Jan 2019) It was a challenging year for market returns and global economic growth. 2018 was the weakest year for global markets since the great financial crisis in 2008. Markets were dragged down substantially in the final three months of the year due to higher interest rates, a slowing global economy, U.S. government shutdown and...