The broad US equity market had flat-to-slightly-positive returns for the quarter. Small cap stocks in the US under-performed large cap stocks, with US small cap indices posting negative returns. Most equity markets outside the US had negative performance in US dollar terms. Currency movements played a role; the dollar appreciated against most currencies. In developed markets outside the US, large cap indices outperformed small cap indices. In the emerging markets, however, small cap indices outperformed large cap indices. Value under-performed…

Equity markets posted positive performance for the quarter-led by emerging markets. This was the first quarterly period in which emerging markets had outperformed developed markets since the third quarter of 2012. REITs both in the US and in developed non-US markets outperformed equities. Large cap indices outperformed small cap indices in the developed and emerging markets, including the US. In general, value outperformed growth indices, though performance was mixed within size ranges and regions… Read our Second Quarter Newsletter for…

U.S. stocks ended the first quarter of 2014 with only minimal changes, as a sell-off early in the quarter gave way to a recovery that more than offset previous losses in most cases. The decline was relatively brief and confined to a two-week stretch in late January and the beginning of February. A weak December 2013 employment report, concerns about emerging markets, and the Federal Reserve’s ongoing downsizing of its Quantitative Easing program (QE) were all factors weighing on share…

The unusually strong performance of US stocks in 2013 was a welcome surprise for investors who are following a simple buy-and hold strategy and a source of exasperation for many professionals caught flatfooted by the steady rise in share prices. It was the best year for the S&P 500 Index since 1997, with a total return in excess of 32%. The size and value dimensions were even more rewarding: 2013 was the best calendar year since inception for the DFA…

U.S. stocks enjoyed strong gains in the third quarter. Gains were strongest in the NASDAQ Composite +10.82% for the third quarter and 24.90% year to date. Small stocks as measured by the Russell 2000 out-performed the Large S&P 500 for the quarter 10.21% versus 5.24% respectfully and 27.69% versus 19.79% year to date. For the bond market in 2013 it depends greatly on the structure to determine if you have negative returns… Read our Third Quarter Newsletter for 2013.

The Second Quarter 2013 returns remained positive for a majority of the equity markets, and for the year investors remain ahead of our target annual returns. U.S. Stocks: All major U.S. asset classes maintained positive performance in the second quarter, with the broad market returning 2.69%. Asset class returns ranged from 3.74% for Small stocks to 2.06% for Large Growth stocks. Year-to-date Small and Small Value stocks outperformed U.S. Large, while U.S. Large Value returned the best at over 18.14%……

After a flat 2011, the US stock market posted a strong first quarter as the US economy showed signs of improvement and perceptions of the European debt crisis improved. The S&P 500 had its best first-quarter rally in 14 years, closing near a four-year high and a 12.6% total return. When the second quarter began, markets retreated as Europe’s debt crisis returned to center stage and signs of slowing global growth emerged—especially in China, where lower world demand had begun…

During the third quarter of 2012 investors rode a rising tide as equities mounted a comeback from a disappointing second quarter. Almost all investment categories advance during the quarter and surprised those expecting a repeat of the painful summer of 2011. The average US diversified stock fund gained 5.3% during the quarter while the Dow was up 5.0%. International stocks also enjoyed a strong quarter with their index (MSCI EAFE) advancing 6.14%… Read our Third Quarter Newsletter for 2012.

Any investor should be willing to admit 2011 was a pretty crazy year for the markets. They were churned through the year by a weather and nuclear disaster in Japan, a deadlock over finances in Congress that led to a downgrade of U.S. debt, and a major crisis in Europe that threatened to blow apart the European Union and end the Euro as a currency… Read our First Quarter Newsletter for 2012.