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Courtiers Comments on December 2016 Markets

December saw Italy voting in a referendum based on a constitutional reform which would provide more power to the Chamber of Deputies – the Italian equivalent of the UK’s House of Commons – and less power to the Senate. The outcome was 59.4% win for the rejection campaign, which means the current system, in which the House and the Senate have equal powers, remains in place. Following the result, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tendered his resignation and a week later the vacancy was filled by foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The US Federal Reserve announced that it would be increasing its benchmark interest rate from 0.5% to 0.75%. This marks the second time that the rate has increased since the financial crisis in 2008, following a similar rise from 0.25% to 0.5% in December 2015. The Fed, which has been chaired by Janet Yellen since 2014, said that the American economy is expanding at a healthy pace, and cited steady growth of employment as one of the key reasons for the rise.

Several oil-producing countries which aren’t members of the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) cartel have agreed to reduce their oil output in a bid to boost prices. The eleven states, which include Russia and Azerbaijan, said they will cut supplies to 558,000 barrels per day. OPEC had already announced it would be reducing its own production to ease the oversaturated global oil market. The price of oil recovered slightly in 2016, with futures contracts ending the year at nearly $54 per barrel having fallen below $30 in January and February.

December was a positive month for developed equity markets. In the UK, the FTSE 100 index surged +5.37% while the FTSE 250 (ex IT) index and the FTSE Small Cap (ex IT) index picked up +3.20% and +6.14% respectively. In the US, the S&P 500 index gained +1.98% while in Europe the Eurostoxx 50 index leapt +7.94%. Japanese equities, measured by the Topix index, rose +3.47%.

Emerging market returns were more mixed. The MSCI EM (Emerging Markets) index saw a small increase of +0.21%. Chinese equities, represented by the MSCI China index, lost -4.13% and Latin American equities, measured by the MSCI EM Latin America GR index, fell -1.16%. The IISL Nifty index, which measures Indian equity returns, declined -0.47%.

Global bond markets performed well during the month. UK government bonds, measured by the FTSE Gilts All Stocks index, increased +1.80%, and long dated (over 15 years to maturity) gilts rose +3.16%. In the corporate market, European corporate bonds, measured by the Markit iBoxx Euro Corporates index, were up +0.66% and sterling denominated corporate bonds, measured by the Markit iBoxx Sterling Corporates index, returned +2.25%. High yield returns were also positive, as the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Euro High Yield index and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Sterling High Yield index gained +1.86% and +1.66% respectively. Emerging Market sovereign debt, measured by the JP Morgan EMBI Global index, gathered +1.44%.

Commodity returns were also fairly strong. The S&P GSCI index, which consists of a basket of commodities including oil, metals and agricultural items, increased +4.72%. The price of a crude oil contract rose +8.66%. Agricultural returns were positive, as corn and wheat gained +1.00% and +1.30% respectively. The precious metals on the other hand saw negative returns, as the S&P GSCI Gold and Silver indices sank -1.85% and -2.95% respectively.

In the foreign exchange markets, the pound depreciated against most major currencies, including the US dollar and the euro which appreciated +1.11%, and +0.54% respectively. However the yen lost -1.22% against the pound.

(All the above returns are reflected on a local currency basis i.e. they do not factor in any relevant currency movements. Unless accompanied by PR (Price Return), they do include income).

Warning – the views expressed by Courtiers in this summary and any video and video transcripts, are reached from our own research. Courtiers cannot accept responsibility for any decisions taken as a result of reading this document, watching the featured video or reading the video transcript and investors are recommended to take independent professional advice before effecting transactions. The price of stocks, shares and funds, and the income from them, may fall as well as rise. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future returns.

We do not endorse nor accept responsibility for the content of any website not operated by Courtiers which you may visit by following a link from this article.

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