Investment news
In March, investors who remained optimistic were rewarded as stock markets continued to rise despite an increase in US inflation for the second consecutive month and a slowdown in consumer spending.
February was a remarkable month, with strong economic data and positive earnings reports leading to the Standard and Poor’s 500 (a stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S)
In 2024, the share market had a strong start, with equities (shares) continuing to rise in value. However, fixed income assets (such as bonds) struggled to keep up.
Global share markets made good gains in the December quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Index ? Net returning 5.4% in unhedged New Zealand dollar(NZD) terms.
In 2023, global stocks and bonds had a strong end to the year, with prices rising throughout the final month.
In November, both stocks and bonds had a strong recovery after a period of uncertainty. This was mainly due to the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged.
US interest rates are likely to remain higher for a longer period owing to stronger than predicted US GDP and employment growth.
Global share markets fell in the September quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Index ‒ Net returning -1.5% in unhedged New Zealand dollar (NZD) terms.
An investor labelled “September Effect” was possibly a cause for the negative share market performance during the month, as stock returns fell back further and bond yields rose once again.
As we’ve seen in the past, when China experiences economic turmoil, the rest of the world is likely to feel its effects.
Global share markets made strong gains in the June quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Index ‒ Net returning 8.4% in unhedged New Zealand dollar (NZD) terms.
With the often discussed ‘soft-landing’ scenario becoming more of a possibility, investors may have found themselves in an unlikely bull market.
In June, global share markets showed strength with returns largely driven by players in ‘big tech’ alongside consumer discretionary, industrials and the materials sector.
Global share markets experienced a negative performance this month as investor sentiment was dampened by concerns over US debt ceiling negotiations.
Despite concerns about a possible recession, investor sentiment remained largely positive in April. Investors were initially spooked as minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s (‘Fed’) March meeting.
Global share markets were positive despite the turmoil that engulfed the banking industry.
Investor skepticism over intentions to fight inflation, led to a month of mostly declines in global share markets.
Global share markets made good gains in local currency terms in the December quarter but fell in unhedged New Zealand dollar (NZD) terms, with the MSCI ACWI Index - Net returning -1.8%.
Global share markets started the New Year with a bang, showcasing a strong rally off the back of a weak December.
December saw global share markets retreat from advances made in November, continuing their recent ‘see-sawing’ pattern. Fears of a recession and earnings risks remained.
Global share markets continued to deliver positive returns in November, which was a result of better than expected Consumer Price Index (‘CPI’) readings in the US.
October was a positive month for investors, as we saw share markets recovering.
Global share markets fell in local currency terms in the September quarter, but a weakening New Zealand dollar (NZD) meant that they rose in NZD terms, with the MSCI ACWI Index - Net returning 2.4%.
Global share markets continued their decline in September, with the S&P 500 index suffering its worst one-day sell-off since June 2020.
After a rebound in July, which continued into early August, global share markets saw a broad-based sell-off following US Federal Reserve (‘Fed’) Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks at the Jackson Hole.
Global share markets experienced a significant rebound in July, after the June lows.
Global share markets suffered another negative month as a slight rebound experienced at the end of May faded.
2021 was a year of post-lockdown recovery which led to strong growth in many economies.
Global share markets experienced another difficult month, as markets continued to digest a fast changing economic environment. With weaker than expected global activity in April.
Global equity markets had their most difficult month since March 2020 as the confluence of global central banks tightening monetary policy, economic growth momentum fading and a challenging corporate.
We saw ‘lift-off’ in March as the Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised the federal funds rate (the target rate that banks pay to borrow from each other on an overnight basis).
“There is no purgatory for war criminals - they go straight to hell”, Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said to his Russian counterpart at a United Nations Security Council meeting.
The start of 2022 was a volatile month for equities. Inflation remained at multi decade highs as a competitive labour market and soaring oil prices sustained pressures.
Global share markets were higher in the December quarter, driven largely by a series of encouraging US and European earnings updates.
Financial markets finished the year and the month of December on a strong note despite being disrupted by COVID-19.
Financial markets ended the month of November on tumultuous footing as rising hospitalizations in Europe due to the Coronavirus alongside the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus spurred
Global equity markets rebounded in October after last month’s rout. Inflation, monetary policy tightening and supply chain woes continued to weigh on economic activity.
Global equity markets ended the quarter flat while fixed income markets edged lower. Positive market momentum which dominated the first two months of the quarter reversed in September.
September proved to be a difficult month for Global Equity markets as a slowing global economy, worsening supply chain and the potential Evergrande bankruptcy in China dented investor sentiment.
In August, the global reopening continued, with a number of countries further lifting pandemic restrictions. This is despite the Delta variant continuing to spread and daily cases picking up across
The global economic recovery remained strong in July as the Coronavirus vaccination roll-out continued. This was somewhat tempered by the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
Global Equities finished the month in positive territory after what was one of the strongest starts to the year since the Dot Com bubble in 2000.
For the quarter ended 30 June 2021
Global equities continued their upward trajectory in May as many developed economies continued to reopen, leveraging off surprisingly efficient vaccine rollouts.
After a positive March, global share markets continued to perform strongly in April with all major markets (with the exception of Japan) showing positive returns.
Global equities remained strong through March with the global vaccine rollout giving investors confidence in the year ahead, with the MSCI World Index returning 7.3% in unhedged NZD
Market update – quarter ended 31 December 2020
Global shares experienced a volatile February but finished broadly positive, as investors were encouraged by the idea of a stronger-than-expected economic recovery in the near future.
Global equities were broadly positive to start the year, but closed the month negative as a result of weakness towards the end of January.
Global share markets finished the last calendar month of 2020 on a positive note!
Global equities saw strong returns across the board in November as the outlook for a successful Covid-19 vaccine boosted expectations that the worst of the pandemic
Equity markets failed to find their footing following the turbulence of September, with most major indices experiencing outflows throughout October.
Equity markets lost ground in September, bucking their widespread positive trajectory off their pandemic-induced lows.
Equity markets pushed higher in August, supported by continued improvements in global manufacturing data and an indication of persistently dovish central bank policies.
Global equity markets continued their strong performance in July, with a better-than-expected earnings season in the US and continued fiscal support for households and businesses.
Global equity markets extended their remarkable quarterly gains throughout June, with the NASDAQ touching record highs as FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple,
Global equities climbed and government bond yields rose as the recovery in investment markets continued throughout May.
Despite the ongoing global pandemic, markets delivered sharply positive returns in April.
Mercer are preparing a series of educational videos. This first video is on market volatility and covers how the share market cycles work.
Global markets recently experienced a sharp fall, reflecting fears over the coronavirus that has been quickly spreading around the world.
After touching new highs earlier in the year, global equities and other risk assets sold off sharply in February over concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
January proved to be an eventful month; after a strong start, culminating in the signing of the phase one deal between the US and China,
2019 was a bumper year for equity markets and December was no exception.
November was another positive month for developed equity markets, encouraged by reported progress on trade negotiations between the US and China.
October delivered another positive month for global markets, with global equities rising and bond yields inching higher.
Global markets were once again able to slip into a “goldilocks” phase of accommodative monetary policy and easing trade conflict over September
August was a month marked by volatility, with equity markets struggling as investor risk appetite retreated amid fears of a global recession.
February delivered more good news to investors with most asset classes posting positive returns for the second consecutive month.
July served up more positive returns for investors despite signs of increasing market strain and a weakening global economic outlook.
June was a good one for investors with all major asset classes delivering positive returns and equities recovering from the falls suffered in May.
May dished up a rocky month for investors, reminiscent of the equity correction seen in December last year.
April continued the positive start to 2019 for investors, with equity markets maintaining their positive momentum.