For the third quarter of 2018, the S&P 500 returned 7.2%, the best quarterly return since 2013. Fueled by the strongest U.S. macro backdrop since the Financial Crisis, the S&P 500 generated equally potent returns for July and August before momentum faded in September around renewed trade angst. Despite more subdued gains as the quarter progressed, the market achieved yet another all-time high by late September as well as earning the distinction of the longest bull market on record. In the wake of the tenth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman, volatility remained in the lowest historic quartile.1 Trade tension continued to impact the currency markets and the U.S. dollar strengthened, pressuring both the material and energy sectors. Outside of trade, healthcare impacted market performance positively as the sector contributed double digit gains within the S&P 500 for the quarter.
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