4th Quarter 2014   Markets Fourth quarter headlines included volatility spikes, dramatic declines in oil prices, and positive views of the economy by the Fed.   Oil declined 41% this quarter and 46% for the year.  The dollar continued to gain against some major developed global currencies.  For the year, the dollar gained 13.6% against the euro and 13.8% against the yen whil ...

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3rd Quarter 2014   Markets It was a choppy third quarter for global asset classes.  Domestically, Large Cap equities rose slightly but Small Cap US stocks fell.  The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P rose 1.3%, and the NASDAQ rose 1.9%, but the Russell 2000 fell 7.7%.  International equities, on average, fell for the quarter with the MSCI ACWI ex US down 6%.  European equities decl ...

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2nd Quarter 2014   Markets In the second quarter of 2014 major asset class performance was positive.   The Dow was up 2.4%, the S&P up 4.7%, and the NASDAQ up 5%.  International equities nearly kept pace with US equities; the MSCI ACWI ex US was up 3.8%.   MSCI Europe was up 1.9%, and MSCI Pacific was up 5.2%.  Emerging market equity indices rebounded from recent underpe ...

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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 ...

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