US equities posted the biggest gain among the major asset classes last week, based on a set of exchange-traded products. Foreign and US real estate shares grabbed second- and third-place finishes, respectively, for the five trading days through Friday, June 8.
Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) rose 1.7% last week, leading the winner’s list. The advance marks the third straight weekly gain, lifting the ETF to its highest close since January 31.
Real estate shares were also buoyant last week, with foreign securities in this space grabbing the second-strongest spot. Vanguard Global ex-US Real Estate (VNQI) gained 1.4%. In third place: US real estate investment trusts (REITs), which increased 1.2%, posting its third straight weekly gain.
Last week’s big loser: bonds in emerging markets. VanEck Vectors JP Morgan Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond (EMLC) edged down 0.5%, leaving the ETF near its lowest close in more than a year.
For the one-year trend, US equities continue to lead for the major asset classes. VTI is currently up 16.9% on a total return basis for the trailing one-year window.
For second place, there’s a tie between broadly defined commodities and stocks in emerging markets. Despite recent weakness, Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets (VWO) is posting a solid 12.0% total return for the past year, matching the year-over-year return for iPath Bloomberg Commodity (DJP).
Meantime, the biggest one-year loss can be found in emerging markets bonds. EMLC was in the red by 2.4% over the past 12 months.
Ranking the major asset classes by drawdown, however, still leaves broadly defined commodities in the deepest hole. DJP’s peak-to-trough decline at the moment is in excess of 40%.
