Most global equity markets continued to exhibit strong performance in November led by the US and Europe, as reflected by the Russell Global Indexes.
"Global markets continued to climb in November amid generally encouraging signs of economic growth across regions and markets. The European equity markets, in particular, appear to have benefitted from an increasing sense of global investor optimism, even despite less than encouraging economic signs across Europe,” says Wouter Sturkenboom, investment strategist for Russell Investments Europe. “A closer look at index returns shows the wide range of returns across regions, markets, sectors and capitalisation, which reinforces the importance of maintaining a globally diversified multi-asset portfolio approach.”
Europe has shown strong performance in 2013, particularly in recent months. The Russell Developed Europe Index returned 1.2 per cent in November and is up 20.9 per cent year-to-date as of November 29. Germany was a standout within the Index in November, with a 3.8 per cent return, while Italy was the worst country performer within the Index in November, with a (-1.4 per cent) return.
Global markets outside the US have also been positive. The Russell Developed ex-US Index returned 0.5 per cent in November and is up 16.7 per cent year-to-date as of 29 November.
The broad US equity market, as reflected by the Russell 3000 Index, returned 2.7 per cent in November and is up 26 per cent year-to-date as of 29 November. Small caps helped lead US equity market performance for this same time period, with a 3.8 per cent return for the Russell 2000 Index in November relative to a 2.7 per cent return for the US large cap Russell 1000 Index.
In emerging and frontier markets, performance was mixed across regions and markets.
Emerging markets, as reflected by the Russell Emerging Markets Index, returned (-1.6 per cent) in November and (-2.1 per cent) year-to-date as of 29 November. China was a standout within the Index in November, with a 4.3 per cent return, while Indonesia was the worst country performer within the Index in November, with a (-12.3 per cent) return.
Frontier markets, as reflected by the Russell Frontier Market Index, returned 1.7 per cent in November and the Index is up 16.1 per cent year-to-date as of 29 November.
A number of Russell Global Indexes hit all-time highs during the month of November. Several indexes such as the Russell Global Index (15 Nov), Russell Developed Europe Index (29 Nov), Russell Developed Europe Small Cap Index (29 Nov), Russell 2000 Index (27 Nov), Russell 1000 Index (15 Nov) and the UK and Germany country constituents within the Russell Global Index (29 Nov) all new all-time highs for total return index value during the month.
