The majority of asset classes’ recorded lower, but still positive returns, in April, after the strong rallies in March, as investors reduced their expectations that a global recession was imminent.

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The majority of asset classes recorded increased returns in March. This came as investors moved on from global growth concerns, and central banks continued to ease monetary policy. The strongest returns were recorded in asset classes that had deteriorated the most since the market pullback, which began in late December 2015.

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Global equities continued their weaker trend falling 1.4% (hedged) in February, with Australian equities following the global lead, falling 1.8%. The volatility was driven by
ongoing concerns that global growth was slowing with some possibility of recession.

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Global equities had a very difficult start to the year falling 5.4% (hedged) over January, with the All Country World Index down 10.0% at the month’s lows. Concerns that global growth was slowing and weaker energy prices were the primary drivers of the sell-off.

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Despite a reasonable economic backdrop, commodity prices continued to decline during December. The Reserve Bank Commodity Price Index fell 4.9%, with the annual decline 23.3%, led by falls in oil and iron ore.

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Despite an increasingly stable economic backdrop, commodity prices continued to tumble over November.  The Reserve Bank Commodity Price Index showed a 2.9% fall last month, to bring the annual decline to 22%.  As a result, prices of resource stocks plummeted further last month, with Australia’s export income now in decline despite higher volumes.

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Some confidence returned to financial markets over October. Economic data in the U.S. was favourable and further signs of monetary policy support in Europe and China added to the positive sentiment.

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Heightened financial market volatility continued over September, although sharemarket losses were less significant than those recorded in August. Concerns over a slowing in the pace of economic growth in China appeared to be the dominant theme on markets last month.

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Large losses were recorded on equity markets over August, more than reversing July’s positive bounce back.  Negative sentiment dominated markets, with concerns centered around a deterioration in the outlook for Chinese economic growth.

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A significantly more positive mood prevailed on financial markets over July. The previous month’s concerns over the Greek debt crisis and Chinese share market sell-off failed to deter investors, with equity markets moving sharply higher.

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