Fourth quarter ended with highly anticipated central bank policy action on both sides of the Atlantic. The US Federal Reserve announced, as expected, its first rate increase since the global financial crisis, while the European Central Bank’s (ECB) expanded quantitative easing program disappointed investors by meeting, but failing to exceed, market expectations. The broad relief…

November brought renewed US dollar strength and commodity price weakness as some better-than-expected recent US economic data and hawkish comments from the US Federal Reserve highlighted the disparity between a seemingly healthy US economy and economic challenges abroad. After a strong October, global developed markets equities posted modest gains in local currency terms, led by…

October saw a strong rally in risk assets as accommodative stances from major central banks, more stable commodity prices, and reasonable earnings releases supported investors’ renewed risk appetites.

Market volatility notably increased in the third quarter, largely driven by investors’ growing concerns over China’s slowing economy and the negative implications for global growth, inflation, and asset prices. The US Federal Reserve’s decision to continue holding rates at the zero bound, citing China-related developments, further contributed to the market’s uncertainty. Since late May, global…

Markets swooned in August as China’s disappointing economic data releases and mini-devaluation renewed investors’ fears regarding the global growth outlook.

July saw the release of second quarter earnings data compete for the market’s attention with the latest global macroeconomic and geopolitical developments. For now Greece has avoided a default, while in China policymakers continue their efforts to stem what has already been a 30%+ correction. Meanwhile, the developed world’s recovery from the global financial crisis…

The second quarter ended on a downbeat note for most global equities, as Greece’s failure to reach a deal with its creditors sent reverberations through markets. Central banks were key players throughout the quarter, with the European Central Bank (ECB) launching its quantitative easing program, the June US Federal Reserve communiqué reassuring investors, and the…

Many assets struggled to retain their upward momentum in May, as a battle between technicals and fundamentals played out across several markets. Prime examples included the US dollar eventually regaining its poise after some initial wobbles, oil futures moving lower after several weeks of gains, and Eurozone government bond yields rising from historically low levels….

Markets were skittish in April as Eurozone stocks paused to catch their breath after a strong recent rally and US equities barely budged given softer economic data and an awareness of stretched valuations. Weaker data encouraged some investors to unwind what had been very successful bets on the US dollar, despite Treasury yields moving higher…

UK and US markets showed a noticeable uptick in volatility over first quarter, while European and Asian shares soared (and bond yields plumbed new lows) thanks to, in no particular order, the ECB’s much-ballyhooed QE announcement in January, the strong US dollar, increasing signs of speculation in China, and the fact that Greece remains, at…