Global Financial Markets Articles

Global Market Commentary August 2021

Global Market Commentary August 2021

Global Equities gained 2.50% to finish August at their all-time high and to bring YTD returns to 15.91%. In the US, the S&P 500 Index notched its 53rd record close in August, clinching its highest number of records in a calendar year. The US Large Cap stock...

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Global Market Commentary June 2021

Global Market Commentary June 2021

Global equities rose 1.36% in June to bring Q2 and YTD returns to 7.39% and 12.30% respectively. The U.S. comprises more than 58% of the MSCI ACWI All Country World Index ( ACWI), and the S&P 500 finished the first half of the year by notching its 33nd record...

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Global Market Commentary April 2021

Global Market Commentary April 2021

Global Equities reached an all-time high on April 29th, and the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) finished April up 4.37% to bring YTD returns to 9.14% in 2021. The S&P 500 posted notched its fourth consecutive positive month and its best monthly return since...

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Are SPACs Really All That Special?

Are SPACs Really All That Special?

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, seem to be all the rage recently. But why are they gaining so much attention, and what should investors know? IPO. EPS. MLP. LIBOR. NYSE. The investment world is fond of acronyms and keeping them straight can be a tall...

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Global Market Commentary March 2021

Global Market Commentary March 2021

The S&P 500 closed the first quarter at a record high, climbing 4.42% in March. That brought YTD returns to 5.77%, ahead of President Joe Bidenā€™s unveiling of a $2.25 trillion infrastructure and stimulus spending program after the trading close on March 31st. The...

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Global Market Commentary February 2021

Global Market Commentary February 2021

A runup in interest rates cooled a rally in global stocks this month. The MSCI All-Country World Index (ACWI) hit an all-time high on February 16 and was up over 6.60% mid-month, only to finish February with a more modest 2.32% gain. Inflation worries heightened,...

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Global Market Commentary January 2021

Global Market Commentary January 2021

Global equities started the New Year strong, but then faltered by month's end. As of January 21, the MSCI All-Country World Index was up 3.75% for the month and making new all-time highs -- but then sold off and finished the month down 0.45%. In the U.S., the S&P...

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Global Market Commentary December 2020

Global Market Commentary December 2020

A chaotic 2020 came to a close with global equities climbing 4.64% in December. They ended the year up 16.25%, as the MSCI All-Country World Index (ACWI) finished at an all-time high. The three US bellwethers ā€” the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq ā€” also closed the...

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Global Market Commentary November 2020

Global Market Commentary November 2020

Global equities just experienced a November to remember: The MSCI All-Country World Index (ACWI) jumped 12.33% to record its best month since the index launched back in 1969, as investors rode a wave of upbeat news about impending COVID-19 vaccines. Two U.S....

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Global Market Commentary October 2020

Global Market Commentary October 2020

Earlier hopes for both a vaccine and U.S. stimulus finally faded in October, as investors became frustrated with the lack of progress on both fronts. Global equities sold off, with the MSCI All-Country World Index (ACWI) falling 2.43%. In the U.S., the bellwether...

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Global Market Commentary September 2020

Global Market Commentary September 2020

Global equities experienced their first monthly decline in five months, falling 3.22% in September, but still managed to post an 8.13% return for the third quarter (Q3). That's especially impressive considering the economic havoc the coronavirus pandemic has brought...

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Global Market Commentary August 2020

Global Market Commentary August 2020

Global equities continued their climb in August: The MSCI All-Country World Index posted a 6.12% return for the month, besting even the impressive 5.28% return in July. In the U.S., the large-cap S&P 500 Index hit an all-time high and posted its best August...

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