Performance Year-To-Date {International}

Today we'll wrap up our year-to-date performance review.  We have been covering different asset classes  of the market based on our own unique view of asset allocation.  Today we're taking a look at various international indices.  Again, this data is through May 21, 2018.  You can click on the chart above if you want to make it larger.  Performance chart is from Stockcharts.com, although the ETF selection is my own.  Also I believe the performance data shown above does not include dividends.  If I am correct then the total returns on these indices is actually better than what is shown above.

International ETFs have so far mostly been market performers this year with the exception of emerging markets and Latin America.  The rising dollar hurts emerging markets and Latin America has other issues as well.  We do need to point out though that last year foreign markets and especially the emerging areas for the most part had better performance than most of the major market indices.   International markets seem to be like most markets here in the US in that they are probably fairly valued right now. I would remind investors that foreign exposure can also experience heightened volatility.  Investors need to think about whether or not they can stomach the more pronounced peaks and valleys that comes with investing in this sector before they allocate assets.

Back Thursday.

*Long in client and personal accounts in some manner the indices listed above with the exception of Latin America.  Positions can change at any time without notice on this blog or via any other form of electronic communication.