Asset Class Returns in YTD 2019 The S&P 500 Index, US Treasury bonds, gold and crude oil are all positive this year. This situation is quite rare. It never happened before, to have them all up double digits. Image: LPL Research
Brent 5-Year Futures Price This chart shows that long-dated oil prices stayed relatively flat after attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Brent Price vs. 10-Year Treasury Bond Yield vs. S&P 500 This chart shows that oil prices are a good indicator of global economic growth and investors are concerned about a global economic slowdown. Image: Pictet Wealth Management
Are US-China Trade Talks “Going Very Well” As Donald Trump Says? Well, in 2018, China was selling its US Treasury securities. In 2019, it’s just the opposite. Not bad! Why? It is not obvious, but China could use the dollars elsewhere, in Middle East countries for oil supplies, instead of buying US Treasury securities. Image: Ryan Detrick,…