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…

February saw some global stock indexes reach 15-year highs and European bond yields fall to historical lows. Economic data were mildly positive, though European sovereign debt stress is back (it never really went away) and many emerging markets countries are easing monetary policy to relieve the stress of high debt levels. Crude oil staged a…

The European Central Bank showed policymakers can still pack some punch as the bank’s decision to expand quantitative easing efforts gave a boost to local equity and bond markets in January. The Swiss National Bank also surprised, but in a different manner—removing a floor under the franc/euro exchange rate caused the franc to soar and…

Plunging commodity prices were a key driver of asset prices during the fourth quarter, though regional economic and earnings growth as well as diverging monetary policy also came into play. It was a happy holiday for investors in US equities, which benefitted from robust economic and earnings data, as well as those with exposure to…