Global Markets Experience Downturn in October: A Comprehensive Analysis of Asset Class Performance
In October, global markets faced a widespread downturn, marking a shift from the positive trend observed in previous months. Let’s delve into the details of how various asset classes performed during this period:
Monthly Performance Overview:
- Majority of major asset classes recorded losses, with cash and commodities emerging as the only exceptions.
- Foreign real estate experienced a significant decline of 6.9% in October after enjoying three consecutive months of strong gains.
- Stocks in the US, developed, and emerging markets also suffered losses, with American shares witnessing a 0.8% decline, ending a five-month winning streak.
- US bonds, represented by Vanguard Total Bond Market, saw a notable decline of 2.5% in October, marking the first monthly decrease since April.
Key Highlights:
- Commodities, represented by GSG, showed resilience by reversing a three-month losing streak and posting a 1.4% gain, making it the best-performing asset class for the month.
- Cash investments also saw an increase, while red ink dominated the performance of other asset classes in October.
Year-to-Date Performance:
- Despite the downturn in October, most markets are still in positive territory for the year, led by US stocks and US real estate investment trusts. Foreign bonds are the only category experiencing losses in 2024.
- The Global Market Index (GMI) ended its winning streak by shedding 2.1% in October, but it still maintains a strong total return of 12.9% year-to-date.
GMI Performance and Benchmarking:
- GMI, an unmanaged benchmark representing major asset classes (excluding cash) in market-value weights through ETFs, continues to show competitive performance for multi-asset-class portfolios.
- Over a one-year period, GMI’s performance remains moderate compared to US stocks and bonds.
Conclusion:
Despite the challenges faced by global markets in October, the overall performance of various asset classes reflects the dynamic nature of investment opportunities. Investors should closely monitor market trends and diversify their portfolios to navigate through periods of volatility and capitalize on long-term growth opportunities.For more in-depth insights and analysis, you can refer to the original article here.