NEW YORK: Below is a look at our asset class performance matrix highlighting the total return of various ETFs over three near-term time frames – over the last six months, over the last month, and year-to-date so far in 2018.
Notably, the oil ETF (NYSEARCA:USO) is now up more than any asset class in our matrix over the last six months with a gain of 32.76%. Behind oil is Brazil (NYSEARCA:EWZ), the BRIC ETF (NYSEARCA:EEB), Russia (NYSEARCA:RSX), and the S&P 500 Technology sector (NYSEARCA:XLK). Natural gas (NYSEARCA:UNG), Mexico (NYSEARCA:EWW), and the Telecom sector (NYSEARCA:IYZ) are down the most over the last six months.
In terms of performance to kick off 2018, US equities have done very well out of the gate with the S&P 500 gaining 2.24% this week. The Nasdaq 100 (NASDAQ:QQQ) has done even better with a gain of 3.83%, while the Dow 30 (NYSEARCA:DIA) has lagged at +1.83%. Large-caps have outperformed small-caps thus far, and growth has outperformed value.
While US equities have yet to see a down day in 2018, international markets have posted even bigger gains to start the year. Russia (RSX), Brazil (EWZ), Italy (NYSEARCA:EWI), Spain (NYSEARCA:EWP), and Germany (NYSEARCA:EWG) are all up more than 4% on the year already, and the emerging markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM) is up 4.07%.
One asset class that has dipped to start 2018 is fixed income, where both short and long-term Treasury ETFs are down.
