Positive returns dominated the first week of trading in July for the major asset classes, based on a set of US-listed exchange-traded products. With the exception of broadly defined commodities, every corner of finanical markets posted gains for the trading week through July 6.
Securitized real estate securities in the US posted the strongest gain last week for the major asset classes. Vanguard REIT (NYSE:VNQ) posted its third consecutive weekly advance by the close of trading on Friday, rising 1.9% and lifting the ETF to its highest price in nearly two years.
The only loss last week was registered in broadly defined commodities. iPath Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Exp 12 June 2036 (NYSE:DJP) fell 1.5%, leaving the exchange-traded note near its lowest close of the year to date.
For the one-year trend, US equities are far and away the best performer for the major asset classes. Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE:VTI) posted a 17.5% total return for the trailing one-year window (252 trading days) at Friday’s close. That’s a healthy premium over the second-best one-year performer: foreign real estate/REITs via Vanguard Global ex-US Real Estate (NASDAQ:VNQI), which is up 10.0% over the past 12 months.
The biggest one-year loser at the moment: bonds issued by governments in emerging markets. VanEck Vectors JP Morgan EM Local Currency Bd (NYSE:EMLC) was off 3.0% at last week’s close vs. the year-earlier level.
FT reported on Friday that emerging market fixed income funds suffered net outflows for the 11th week in a row, based on data published by EPFR, a data consultancy. “The combination of a stronger US dollar and weakening economic data have created a deteriorating backdrop for EM,” advised Robert McAdie, global markets head of strategy at BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP).
Ranking the major asset classes by current drawdown reveals that broadly defined commodities continue to post the biggest peak to trough decline. DJP at last week’s close was trading nearly 50% below its previous peak.
By contrast, inflation-indexed Treasuries are posting the smallest drawdown at the moment for the major asset classes. As of Friday’s close, iShares TIPS Bond (NYSE:TIP) is just 1.1% below its previous peak.
