Market Perspectives

1st Quarter 2014   Markets The first quarter was a relatively calm start to the year.   The Dow was down 0.7%, the S&P up 1.3%, and the NASDAQ up 0.5%.  International equities were nearly flat as well with the MSCI ACWI ex US down 0.1%.   European equities were up 1.5% and Pacific equities were moderately negative, with the MSCI Pacific down 3.3% for the quarter.  Emergi ...

4th Quarter 2013   Markets The quarter continued the theme of the year, with U.S. equities continuing their dramatic performance.   For the quarter, the Dow was up 9.6%, the S&P 9.9%, and the NASDAQ 10.7%.  The year’s returns substantially exceeded last year’s “expert predictions” and much of this year’s punditry with the Dow up 26.5%, S&P up 29.6%, and NASDAQ up 38. ...

3rd Quarter 2013   Markets It was a good quarter to invest in equities, and despite a down second quarter, overall a good year as well.  The Dow was up 1.5%, the S&P 4.7% and the NASDAQ 10.8%.  Year-to-date returns were very positive with the Dow up 15.5%, S&P up 17.9%, and NASDAQ up 24.9%.  International equities were also positive for the quarter and year with the ...

2nd Quarter 2013   Markets The Federal Reserve’s announcement on June 19th of a likely early tapering of the economic stimulus bond buying program sparked a global selloff in nearly all major asset classes.  All asset classes we track declined in response.  Except for domestic equities, which were modestly positive for the quarter, nearly all other asset indices were negativ ...

1st Quarter 2013   Markets Domestic equity markets continued to confound many strategists and pundits.  The Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ ended the quarter at all-time record highs.  The Dow was up 11.3%, the S&P 10.0%, and the NASDAQ 8.2%.  For globally diversified equity investors, the news was mixed but still positive.  Emerging markets were down, but developed markets mad ...

4th Quarter 2012   Markets Domestic equity indices were down modestly for the quarter with the Dow down 2.5%, the S&P 1%, and the NASDAQ 3.1%.  However, for the year, domestic equity markets were up nicely with the Dow 7.3%, the S&P 13.4%, and the NASDAQ 15.9%.  For globally diversified equity investors, the news was even more favorable.  The MSCI’s European Index wa ...

3rd Quarter 2012   In a period of looming macroeconomic risks and great investor uncertainty the quarter resulted in solid gains in most global equity markets.  The Dow was up 4.3%, the S&P 500 5.8% and the NASDAQ 6.2% for the quarter.  Year-to-date the Dow was up 10%, the S&P 14.5% and the NASDAQ 19.6%.  The news internationally was encouraging though mixed with Euro ...

2nd Quarter 2012   The slowdown in global economic activity and heightened macroeconomic risks were reflected in negative equity returns for the quarter.  The Dow fell 3%, the S&P 500 3%, and the NASDAQ 5%.  International equities were even more affected by the downturn with the MSCI EAFE dropping 7% and the MSCI Emerging nearly 9%.  The flight to quality resulted in posi ...

1st Quarter 2012   Equity investing was a solid bet in the quarter.  The Dow rose 8%, the S&P 500 13% and Nasdaq 19%.  International equities also rebounded nicely from the prior quarter.  Europe and Pacific indices were up roughly 11% while the Nikkei 225 posted a remarkable 19%.  Bond indices were mixed, with the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index flat and long term ...

4th Quarter 2011   A flight to quality benefited most domestic indices for the quarter and the year.  While international equities were positive for the quarter they were down substantially for the year.   The S&P 500 was up 11% for the quarter and was flat for the year.   Bonds were mixed with Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index up 1% for the quarter and 8% for the yea ...