All The Major Asset Classes Fell Last Week

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Losses took a toll on markets around the world, with US stocks and bonds posting the smallest setbacks last week, based on a set of ETFs representing the major asset classes. Commodities and property shares ex-US, by contrast, took heavy blows in the trading week through Friday’s close (May 12).

A broad measure of investment-grade fixed-income securities fared best. Vanguard Total US Bond Market Index Fund (BND) ticked lower with a slight 0.2% decline. The ETF continues to trade in a tight range as uncertainty about the debt ceiling impasse in Washington persists, raising anxiety about the macro implications if House Republicans and President Biden don’t soon find common political ground.

BND - Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

The so-called X-date, when the US runs out of money to pay its bills, could arrive in early June, according to some estimates. Negotiations are set to resume tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16.

Commodities lost the most ground last week. WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund (GCC) tumbled 2.8% and closed on Friday near its lowest level in well over a year.

The Global Market Index (GMI.F) fell again last week, slipping 0.6%. This unmanaged benchmark holds all the major asset classes (except cash) in market value weights via ETFs and represents a competitive measure for multi-asset class portfolio strategies.

The major asset classes are posting mixed results for the one-year window, with nearly half showing gains. The performance leader over the past year: Foreign shares in developed markets ex-US (VEA) via an 11.7% total return. Commodities (GCC) are the loss-leader with a near-16% decline.

Most of the major asset classes are still nursing relatively deep drawdowns. The deepest: Foreign real estate shares (VNQI), which ended last week with a -27.7% peak-to-trough decline. Stocks in foreign developed markets (VEA) reflect the softest drawdown for the major asset classes: -9.2%.