Market Matters: February 2020
Global risk assets suffered significant drawdowns in February as concerns over COVID-19’s impact on global economic activity grew.
Equities
US Mid- to Large-Cap Equity Manager Performance
For the sixth straight year, the majority of active mid- to large-cap managers underperformed in 2019, with 62.0% lagging the benchmark (gross of fees). This chart book is our annual summary of the absolute and relative performance of managers that report to our database.
Are You Expecting Another “Tech Wreck” Like 20 Years Ago?
No, we doubt the equity market’s heightened tech concentration will trigger an imminent correction. Rather, tech stocks’ outsized weighting reflects their superior growth and free cash flow this cycle. Amid a lackluster macroeconomic backdrop, historically low discount rates have boosted the appeal of the most profitable and liquid segment of the global equity universe, namely…
US Manager Universe Statistics: Fourth Quarter 2019
This publication presents manager performance for 37 asset classes and substrategies, showing the median, mean, and key percentiles of return. Relevant indexes for each asset class are also included to provide market context.
Review of Market Performance: Calendar Year 2019
The gradual abatement of geopolitical risks, and a renewed accommodative stance from global central banks, led to a strong rebound in risk sentiment in 2019. Equities led the way higher, while interest rate cuts ensured fixed income markets participated in what was a robust year for asset classes across the board. This chart book explores global asset returns and the factors influencing performance last year.
VantagePoint: Disruption, Demographics, and Decoupling
The start of a new year and a new decade is an opportune time to reflect on megatrends that will be consequential over the next ten years. In this edition of VantagePoint, we focus on three such trends and their investment implications: disruption, demographics, and decoupling.
Will Weak Economic Data in the Euro Area Undercut Its Equities?
No, we don’t think so. While euro area economic activity has weakened meaningfully, with real GDP growth falling to its lowest annual pace (1.1%) since 2013 in third quarter, strong equity returns aren’t dependent on robust economic growth. Ultimately, we continue to like the bloc as part of a risk-controlled overweight to global ex US equities funded from US equities.
US Manager Universe Statistics: Third Quarter 2019
This publication presents manager performance for 37 asset classes and substrategies, showing the median, mean, and key percentiles of return. Relevant indexes for each asset class are also included to provide market context.
Market History
Equity market downturns are chaotic environments that are rarely short-lived—the best advice is to be prepared.
Frontier Markets: The Next Frontier in Your Portfolio?
Are frontier markets corrupt, politically driven, and dangerously speculative? Or, are they budding blossoms destined to deliver strong returns? This publication aims to help investors to decide whether and how to integrate FM equities into portfolios, assess underappreciated FM risks, and discuss implementation considerations.