March Monthly Commentary

Volatility roiled markets in the first quarter as investors grappled with the potential economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Economies across the world screeched to an abrupt halt in the face of travel restrictions and containment efforts, sending the CBOE … Continued

February Monthly Commentary

February marked a particularly volatile month for capital markets with fears intensifying over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) turning into a pandemic as the number of new cases appearing outside of China outpaced those within China. In response, the CBOE Volatility … Continued

January Monthly Commentary

After turning in a stellar performance in 2019, equities initially started the new decade on a high note, bolstered by a trade pact between the United States and China. However, optimism quickly gave way to fear amid the outbreak of … Continued

December Monthly Commentary

Global equities went out with a bang, building on their already robust returns for the year, with the MSCI ACWI Index up 26.5% in 2019. US stocks led the charge with the S&P 500 Index returning 31.5% for the 12 … Continued

November Monthly Commentary

Following a relatively quiet month, developed equities ended higher as improving economic data assuaged near-term fears of a slowdown. US markets led the way with the S&P 500 Index increasing 3.6% during the month, adding to year-to-date gains of 27.6% … Continued

October Monthly Commentary

Investors embraced risk assets in October amid more accommodative monetary policies from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, and renewed optimism around the outcomes of Brexit, and the trade war between the United States and China. In equities, … Continued

September Monthly Commentary

Risk assets were in the black in September following a challenging summer marked by an escalating trade war between the United States and China, and sluggish economic growth. Global equities rallied as central banks in the US and Europe eased … Continued

August Monthly Commentary

Equity markets lagged in August as trade tensions between the US and China resurfaced and investors fretted over slowing global economic growth. The S&P 500 Index declined 1.6% last month as the US manufacturing sector grew at its slowest pace … Continued

July Monthly Commentary

Most asset classes recorded modest returns in July on the heels of stellar performance in the first half of the year. Domestic equities outperformed with gains of 1.4%—bringing year-to-date returns to 20.2%—as the S&P 500 Index hit a record high … Continued