Monthly Foreign Net Purchases of Long-Term U.S. Securities Record foreign holdings of U.S. assets in 2025 point to lasting investor confidence, even in the face of global economic and geopolitical risks. Image: Bloomberg
Returns – Global Equities vs. Global Bonds vs. Gold vs. World Portfolio Since 1950, the world portfolio has earned a real 4.1% annual return — global equities led with 7.3%, gold lagged at 2.5%, and global bonds barely reached 1.8%. The long-run verdict is clear: equities have won. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 CAPE Ratio vs. U.S. Households Holding of Equities % Total Financial Assets U.S. households have never been this deep in equities. It’s a sign of booming wealth and market faith — but also a setup for sharper pain if a correction brings valuations back down to earth. Image: Topdown Charts
Total Known Gold ETFs Holdings Gold’s shine isn’t fading. ETF holdings just hit a three‑year high, and even with this week’s selloff, gold prices are still up over 50% this year. Image: Bloomberg
Gold Price Forecast Bullish on bullion, Goldman Sachs sticks to its $4,900-an-ounce forecast for December 2026, betting that resurgent ETF demand and relentless central bank buying will keep the rally alive. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Cumulative Equity Sector Fund Flows Equity funds have continued to attract solid inflows in 2025, driven by strong demand for U.S. and Chinese markets. The buying has been selective, with money gravitating toward Technology, Financials, Materials, and Industrials. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
MSCI ACWI Index and Best Earnings-Per-Share With stocks priced for perfection and earnings forecasts at record highs, even a mild miss could put the market’s rally on the ropes. Image: Bloomberg
Global Central Bank Gold Reserves A striking 95% of reserve managers expect central banks to boost their gold holdings within 12 months, up from 81% a year ago—clear evidence of a sustained rush into the yellow metal. Image: Deutsche Bank
Sentiment/VIX Composite vs. S&P 500 Markets may be rallying, but the Sentiment/VIX Composite Index and broader positioning data show investors are still hedging their bets—more guarded than convinced about the rally’s staying power. Image: Real Investment Advice
Margin Debt as % of U.S. Nominal GDP NYSE margin debt exceeding $1.1 trillion, near record highs relative to nominal GDP, signals rapid investor re-leveraging and heightened volatility risk, though not necessarily implying an imminent market crash. Image: Deutsche Bank
Gold Expanding Share of Global Foreign Exchange + Gold Reserve Holdings With gold now making up 30% of global foreign exchange and gold reserves, the metal is stealing back the spotlight—a clear sign of how fragile faith in fiat has become. Image: Deutsche Bank