The last (and abbreviated) trading week of 2015 saw all but two of the indices closing lower. A December turnaround in the German market saw that country’s DAX index overtake Japan’s Nikkei 225 to emerge the top performer of 2015 with a strong return of +9.56%.
Investors digested the Fed’s decision to raise rates by dipping back into the market and allowing several indices to recover some ground lost last week. Four of the seven indices shown above are posting negative returns on a YTD basis, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 occupying 2015’s top spot thus far with a strong gain of about 8.4%. The rout in commodities has not been kind to Canada’s S&P/TSX composite, handing it the dubious distinction of being this year’s worst performer to date (-10.92%).
Strong U.S. employment numbers coupled with what many considered to be an inadequate course of action by the ECB last week saw most market fall sharply. The markets hardest hit were Germany’s DAX (nearly 5%) and France’s CAC 40 (down more than 430 bps). North American indices closed the week surprisingly flat given news released this past week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 continues to lead on a YTD basis with a gain of 11.77%. With an upcoming FED rate rise later this month all but certain, we can expect some further profit taking in the near term.
Investors were dealt a mixed hand last week as four of the seven indices closed higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.37% to occupy the top spot last week. On a YTD basis France’s CAC 40 was the best performer with a gain of 14.63% followed by Germany’s DAX at +10.65%.
Last week was a good week for equity investors as each of the indices ended higher. Germany’s DAX was last week’s top performer with a gain of 6.8% followed by France’s CAC 40 at +4.7%. The French CAC 40 continues to lead on a YTD basis. China’s recent rate cut and musings about further European QE could see further gains next week.
Canada’s S&P/TSX sat out last week’s market rally to post a small week-over-week decline of 12bps. Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC40, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 continue to be in the black with pretty decent YTD numbers.
Each of the indices I track ended squarely in the red last week as negative news reports – corporate and economic – and large currency moves sent investors fleeing stocks.
The Chinese Yuan devaluation, disappointing Chinese manufacturing numbers, and poor earnings coupled with reduced forecasts from American blue chips Deere and HP were among the negative news bites which sent investors bailing out of stocks and seeking safety in treasuries.
On a more positive note, Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40 and Japan’s Nikkei 225 are still up 3.25%, 8.38%, and 11.38% respectively since the beginning of the year despite this week’s market carnage.
A review of how some of the major stock market indices did over the past week:
The Security Whisperer 