December Monthly Commentary
Equities sold off in December amid recessionary fears fueled by the Federal Reserve’s tighter monetary policy. In the U.S., the S&P 500 Index fell 5.8%, bringing losses for 2022 to 18.1%, the worst calendar year return since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. Value stocks outperformed with the Russell 1000 Value Index down 4%, finishing […]
November Monthly Commentary
Global equities moved higher in November, cementing gains from the prior month, as the MSCI ACWI Index added 7.8%. In the U.S., softer-than-expected inflation data fueled expectations that rate hikes by the Federal Reserve may end earlier than anticipated. Monthly headline and core CPI rose 0.4% and 0.3%—equating to annualized increases of 7.7% and 6.3%, […]
October Monthly Commentary
Risk assets sharply rebounded in October despite tighter monetary conditions in the face of persisting inflationary pressures. U.S. equities outperformed with the S&P 500 Index posting gains of 8.1%; the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index was up 3%. Value stocks maintained their lead over growth equities with the Russell 1000 Value and Growth indexes up […]
September Monthly Commentary
Equities continued their downward slide in September as central banks around the globe reiterated their commitment to tighter monetary policies amid persisting inflationary pressures despite softening economic growth. In the U.S., the S&P 500 Index plummeted 9.2%, fueling year-to-date losses of 23.9%. Value stocks outperformed growth equities with the Russell 1000 Value Index falling 8.8%, […]
Open Meeting – UUCEF Socially Responsible Investing Guideline Revisions
Members of the investment committee are convening on Tuesday evening, October 18th at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central / 5pm Mountain / 4pm Pacific to hold an open meeting to discuss the upcoming revisions to our Socially Responsible Investing Guidelines. We are hoping to enlist several volunteers interested in socially responsible investing to work with […]
August Monthly Commentary
Following a strong rebound in July, equities came under pressure last month as central banks around the globe reiterated their commitment to tighter monetary policies amid persisting inflationary pressures despite softening growth. In the U.S., the S&P 500 Index fell 4.1%, pulling year-to-date returns to -16.1%. Value stocks outperformed on a relative basis with continued […]
IMPORTANT: Changes to UUCEF Statements
Notice of Changes to Your Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) Statements and Accounting Process as of New Fiscal Year The UUA finance / accounting staff have been reviewing changes to our accounting processes with the vendor who provides the “back office” accounting for UUCEF client accounts. This review has led us to make some […]
July Monthly Commentary
Stocks rebounded in July despite rising inflation and pessimistic macroeconomic data. In the U.S., headline CPI trended higher, rising 9.1% over the 12 months ending in June. On an inflation-adjusted basis, the U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.9% in the second quarter, and entered a technical recession with two consecutive quarters of […]
June Monthly Commentary
The global rout in equities continued into June as elevated inflation levels and tighter monetary policy exacerbated concerns around a recession. In the U.S., headline CPI unexpectedly accelerated, jumping 8.6% over the 12 months ending in May, while core CPI (excluding food and energy) was up 6%. In response, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark […]
January Monthly Commentary
Global assets started 2023 on solid footing amid signs of waning inflation and robust growth. In the U.S., headline CPI marked its first monthly decline since May 2020, falling 0.1% in December, after rising 6.5% in 2022. Labor markets remained resilient with the unemployment rate declining to 3.5% in December, even as labor force participation […]