November Monthly Commentary

Risk assets sold off in November as investor sentiment weakened amid concerns around ongoing inflation and the pandemic. In the U.S., October Consumer Price Index data revealed higher-than-expected prices with headline CPI increasing 6.2% year-over-year. In an unexpected shift, the … Continued

October Monthly Commentary

U.S. equities moved higher in October as strong corporate earnings and a relatively positive macroeconomic backdrop pushed the S&P 500 Index to a record high, with the index gaining 7% last month. During this period, non-U.S. equities were also in … Continued

September Monthly Commentary

Global equities sold off in September as inflationary concerns pushed yields higher. The Federal Open Market Committee assumed a more hawkish tone in its meeting last month as the median policy rate forecast increased to three hikes in the Fed … Continued

August Monthly Commentary

Risk assets pushed higher in August with encouraging economic data, still-accommodative monetary policy, and strong corporate earnings underpinning positive sentiment. Despite another month of robust returns, concerns loomed over the continued spread of the Delta variant, negatively impacting consumer sentiment … Continued

July Monthly Commentary

The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 6.5% in the second quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate of 8.5%. Safe-haven assets ended July higher as concerns over the spread of the Delta variant and slower-than-expected growth weighed … Continued

June Monthly Commentary

Equities continued their march upward in June as the ongoing vaccine rollout and improving economic data bolstered sentiment. U.S. equities led the way with the S&P 500 Index posting a 2.3% gain for the month. In an about turn from … Continued

May Monthly Commentary

Improving economic data and the ongoing vaccine rollout continued to bolster support for risk assets in May. Global equities pushed higher, with local markets outside the U.S. outperforming as they benefitted from a weaker U.S. dollar. The MSCI EAFE and … Continued

April Monthly Commentary

Global equities pushed higher in April as a relatively positive macroeconomic backdrop—progress with the vaccine roll-out, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and ongoing stimulus tailwinds—bolstered market sentiment. In the U.S., the S&P 500 Index posted its third consecutive month of gains, adding … Continued

March Monthly Commentary

Global equities ended the first quarter in the black as ongoing inoculations and fresh fiscal stimulus in the U.S. provided a supportive environment for risk assets. Domestic equities outperformed their global counterparts with the S&P 500 Index increasing 4.4% in … Continued

February Monthly Commentary

Following the volatile month of January, U.S. equities got off to a strong start in February, bolstered by optimism around ongoing inoculations, improving COVID-19 trends, and the proposed stimulus plan. However, as the weeks progressed, continued upward pressure on interest … Continued