Quarterly Market Review: Q4 2017

2017 Q4 Review

Happy 2018 to everyone!

Before diving into the quarterly market review, I want to send good tidings and blessings to all. 2017 was a tumultuous year and was emblematic of the Wall Street saying “stocks climb a wall of worry.” There are always worries in the world and there is never a perfectly calm and “good” time to invest; however, those who stayed invested and disciplined to their investment plan were rewarded as returns for the year ended up strong.

2017 will be a remembered as one of the more surprising years with a remarkable lack of volatility. The markets seemed to go up every day. It’s so much more fun when it does that, but we also know the upward trend in markets is often intermixed with periods of gut-checking declines. The key to investment success is maintaining a disciplined approach in both good and challenging times.

Years like 2017 make investing fun and rewarding, but it is highly likely that an improving economy, bolstered by significant corporate tax cuts and an improving labor market, could finally lead to a sustained increase in interest rates amid hints of inflation. The Federal Reserve is trying to be transparent about its intentions to raise rates gradually during 2018 and likely 2019, but that transparency will only partially offset the market’s reaction to higher interest rates after almost 10 years of historically low rates.

As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve you! Julie and I wish you a happy and healthy 2018 and we look forward to connecting with you soon!

Greg & Julie

Economic Indicators at a Glance

Below you’ll find a snapshot of some top-line economic indicators, followed by the Quarterly Market Review.

Data source: Trading Economics. 2018.

Market Summary Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Market segment (index representation) as follows: US Stock Market (Russell 3000 Index), International Developed Stocks (MSCI World ex USA Index [net div.]), Emerging Markets (MSCI Emerging Markets Index [net div.]), Global Real Estate (S&P Global REIT Index [net div.]), US Bond Market (Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index), and Global Bond ex US Market (Citi WGBI ex USA 1−30 Years [Hedged to USD]). The S&P data are provided by Standard & Poor's Index Services Group. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2018, all rights reserved. Bloomberg Barclays data provided by Bloomberg. Citi fixed income indices © 2018 by Citigroup.

World Stock Market Performance

MSCI All Country World Index with selected headlines from Q4 2017

These headlines are not offered to explain market returns. Instead, they serve as a reminder that investors should view daily events from a long-term perspective and avoid making investment decisions based solely on the news.

Graph Source: MSCI ACWI Index. MSCI data © MSCI 2018, all rights reserved. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Performance does not reflect the expenses associated with management of an actual portfolio. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

World Asset Classes

Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns (%)

Looking at broad market indices, emerging markets outperformed US and non-US developed markets during the quarter. The value effect was negative in the US, non-US developed markets, and emerging markets. Small caps outperformed large caps in non-US developed markets and emerging markets but underperformed in the US.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. The S&P data is provided by Standard & Poor's Index Services Group. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2018, all rights reserved. Dow Jones data (formerly Dow Jones Wilshire) provided by Dow Jones Indices. Bloomberg Barclays data provided by Bloomberg. Treasury bills © Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation Yearbook™, Ibbotson Associates, Chicago (annually updated work by Roger G. Ibbotson and Rex A. Sinquefield).

U.S. Stocks

Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns

The US equity market posted a positive return for the quarter, outperforming non-US developed markets but underperforming emerging markets. Value underperformed growth in the US across large and small cap indices. Overall, small caps in the US underperformed large caps.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Market segment (index representation) as follows: Marketwide (Russell 3000 Index), Large Cap (Russell 1000 Index), Large Cap Value (Russell 1000 Value Index), Large Cap Growth (Russell 1000 Growth Index), Small Cap (Russell 2000 Index), Small Cap Value (Russell 2000 Value Index), and Small Cap Growth (Russell 2000 Growth Index). World Market Cap represented by Russell 3000 Index, MSCI World ex USA IMI Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. Russell 3000 Index is used as the proxy for the US market. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2018, all rights reserved.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns

Non-US real estate investment trusts outperformed US REITs.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Number of REIT stocks and total value based on the two indices. All index returns are net of withholding tax on dividends. Total value of REIT stocks represented by Dow Jones US Select REIT Index and the S&P Global ex US REIT Index. Dow Jones US Select REIT Index used as proxy for the US market, and S&P Global ex US REIT Index used as proxy for the World ex US market. Dow Jones US Select REIT Index data provided by Dow Jones ©. S&P Global ex US REIT Index data provided by Standard and Poor's Index Services Group © 2018.

Select Country Performance

Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns

In US dollar terms, Singapore and Japan recorded the highest country performance in developed markets, while Sweden and Italy posted the lowest returns for the quarter. In emerging markets, South Africa and India posted the highest country returns, while Pakistan and Mexico had the lowest performance.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Country performance based on respective indices in the MSCI World ex US IMI Index (for developed markets), MSCI USA IMI Index (for US), and MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. All returns in USD and net of withholding tax on dividends. MSCI data © MSCI 2018, all rights reserved. UAE and Qatar have been reclassified as emerging markets by MSCI, effective May 2014.

Fixed Income

Fourth Quarter 2017 Index Returns

Interest rate changes across the US fixed income market were mixed during the fourth quarter. The yield on the 5-year Treasury note rose 28 basis points (bps), ending at 2.20%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased 7 bps to 2.40%. The 30-year Treasury bond yield decreased 12 bps to finish at 2.74%.

In terms of total returns, short-term corporate bonds declined 0.04% during the quarter but increased 1.85% for the year. Intermediate-term corporate bonds gained 0.17% for the quarter and 3.92% for the year.

The total returns for short-term municipal bonds were –0.65% for the quarter and 1.61% for the year. Intermediate-term municipal bonds fell 0.09% for the quarter but gained 4.70% for the year. Revenue bonds outperformed general obligation bonds for the year.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Yield curve data from Federal Reserve. State and local bonds are from the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. AAA-AA Corporates represent the Bank of America Merrill Lynch US Corporates, AA-AAA rated. A-BBB Corporates represent the Bank of America Merrill Lynch US Corporates, BBB-A rated. Bloomberg Barclays data provided by Bloomberg. US long-term bonds, bills, inflation, and fixed income factor data © Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation (SBBI) Yearbook™, Ibbotson Associates, Chicago (annually updated work by Roger G. Ibbotson and Rex A. Sinquefield). Citi fixed income indices © 2018 by Citigroup. ICE BofAML index data © 2018 ICE Data Indices, LLC. The S&P data are provided by Standard & Poor's Index Services Group.