2020 was a highly unusual year that required all of us to regroup and pivot in response to largely unforeseeable challenges. We faced a global pandemic, volatile financial markets, political and social unrest, and the need to learn how to conduct business and life remotely. For many people and businesses, 2020 was a tragic year. | Read More +
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Sage 2021 Market Outlook
For a printable version, click here. For bullets, click here. Introduction 2020 was a year that no market strategist could have foreseen. Within financial markets, nearly all major asset classes globally exhibited positive returns despite extreme volatility, an unprecedented health crisis, a historic economic downturn, a hotly contested election, social unrest, and other systemic shocks. | Read More +
Insights Week Ending July 18
Market Update The key drivers of this week’s market movements were positive updates on COVID-19 treatments and vaccine candidates, as well as continued optimism surrounding a fifth stimulus package. The MSCI ACWI Index, which represents global equities (i.e., both U.S. and international stocks), closed the week up 1.1%, while the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA (international stocks) | Read More +
An Update on the Markets for Week Ending 5.30.2020
Financial markets continued their upward trajectory this week. The S&P 500 finished the week up 3.6%, the technology-focused Nasdaq rose 1.3%, the small cap Russell 2000 advanced 4.1%, and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, rose 4.5%. Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Barclays Aggregate Index, finished the week up 0.2%. Continued | Read More +
End-of-Week Market Update for 5.16.2020
Market Update The financial markets were mostly down this week, following six mostly positive weeks since the beginning of April. While Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, finished the week up 0.5%, the S&P 500 finished the week down 2.3%, the technology-focused Nasdaq declined 1.2%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 | Read More +
End-of-Week Update on the Markets and COVID-19 for 5.8.2020
This week was positive overall for financial markets. The S&P 500 finished the week up 3.5%, the technology-focused Nasdaq rose 6.0%, the small cap Russell 2000 advanced 5.5%, and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, rose 3.0%. Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Barclays Aggregate Index, finished the week down 0.4%. | Read More +
End-of-Week Update on the Markets and COVID-19 for 5.1.2020
Market update This week was relatively busy in terms of incremental developments associated with COVID-19. The financial markets were choppy, but ended the week essentially flat. The S&P 500 finished the week down 0.21%, while the technology-focused Nasdaq fell 0.34%. The small cap Russell 2000 rose 2.23% and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI | Read More +
An Update On The Markets and COVID-19: Reopening The Economy
Market Update Equity markets have trended down so far this week largely for two reasons: (1) extended negotiations in Congress to expand relief for small businesses and (2) lower oil prices (discussed in the next section). The S&P 500 has fallen 4.7%, Nasdaq is down 4.4%, and the small cap Russell 2000 down 3.2%. International | Read More +
COVID-19 Scams: A Guide to Help You Stay Safe
The current crisis is unprecedented, and fraudsters will try to exploit any crisis. We have put together a guide of the most common scams specific to the COVID-19 crisis. You can access it here: A Guide to COVID-19 Scams.
End-of-Week Market Update 4.4.2020
In terms of financial markets, this past week was less volatile than recent weeks. What were daily equity market moves of 6% or greater throughout most of March, have mostly been within a band of ~3% this week. It was also quieter on the news front. After several weeks chock full of major developments in | Read More +
