Financial markets at a glance – December 31, 2021

Financial markets at a glance - December 31, 2021

 

FINANCIAL MARKETS
AT A GLANCE

 

DECEMBER 31, 2021

Canadian and U.S. equity sectors were mostly positive with a few notable exceptions. We saw a flattening of
the yield curve. As a result, government bonds outperformed corporate bonds, and subsequently longer term
bonds outperformed short term bonds. Here are the financial markets at a glance.

decorative iconDownload the PDF

 

 

CANADIAN EQUITIES

 

US EQUITIES

 

 

Sector
9 of the 11 Canadian equity sectors ended the quarter in positive territory. Here are the best and worst performing sectors relative to last quarter.

 

Sector
10 of the 11 U.S. equity sectors ended the quarter
in positive territory. Here are the best and worst
performing sectors relative to last quarter.

 

WORST PERFORMERS

BEST PERFORMERS

Energy

Energy

 

Materials

Materials

Financials

Financials

14.2% Up arrow

10.7% Up arrow

9.4% Up arrow

Communication Services

Communications

Services

Information Technology

Information
Technology

Healthcare

Healthcare

4.1% Up arrow

-3.5% Down arrow

-20.8% Down arrow

 

RealEstate

Real Estate

Information Technology

Information 

Technology

17.2% Up arrow

16.3% Up arrow

Financials

Financials

Communication Services

4.3% Down arrow

-0.3% Down arrow

 

 

Company size performance comparison 
Though small and medium companies were positive over the quarter, they underperformed large-sized companies.

 

Company size performance comparison 
Though small companies were positive over the quarter, they underperformed medium and large-sized companies.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s working/What’s not working

From a style perspective, both value and growth
were positive but growth underperformed the
index.
Quality and minimum volatility were the
top performing factors this quarter, while
momentum trailed last.

 

What’s working/What’s not working

Growth outperformed value this quarter, but
both underperformed the index.
Quality was the only factor to outperform the
broader market, with momentum being the
weakest over the quarter, but still positive.

See also  Envestnet, Orion Cutting Jobs

 

 

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES

 

FIXED INCOME

 

 

 

Regional 
 

RegoinalQ42021-EN_V2

Company size performance comparison 
Global small companies were positive but were
outpaced by large companies over the quarter.

Small Business Up arrow
Large Corporations Up arrow

Small Companies
Large Companies

What’s working/What’s not working

From a style perspective, growth outperformed
value and the MSCI World Index.
Quality was the only factor that outperformed
the index. Momentum, despite a 5.5% gain
underperformed the broader market.

 

We saw a flattening of the yield curve this quarter,
with yields in the middle and long end moving
lower, while short-term bond yields rose. 

Bond performance 

 

   Bond yield 

BondYield-Flat
Bond yields were mixed with shorter date bond yields increasing while longer date bonds fell over the quarter.

Yield on the Canada 2-year rose from 0.53% to 0.95%.
Canada 5-year rose from 1.11% to 1.25%.
Canada 10-year fell from 1.51% to 1.42%.
Canada long bond fell from 1.98% to 1.68%.

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Source: Morningstar Research Inc. as of December 31, 2021. © 2022 Morningstar Research Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. 

Segregated Fund contracts are issued by The Empire Life Insurance Company (“Empire Life”). A description of the key features of the individual variable insurance contract is contained in the Information Folder for the product being considered. Any amount that is allocated to a Segregated Fund is invested at the risk of the contract owner and may increase or decrease in value. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please read the information folder, contract and fund facts before investing.

See also  Progressive car insurance: why it’s the best choice for you 2023

This article includes forward-looking information that is based on the opinions and views of Empire Life as of the date stated and is subject to change without notice. The information contained herein is for general purposes only and is not intended to be comprehensive investment advice. We strongly recommend that investors seek professional advice prior to making any investment decisions. Empire Life and its affiliates assume no responsibility for any reliance on or misuse or omissions of the information contained herein.

 

March 2022