Financial markets at a glance – March 31, 2023

Financial markets at a glance - March 31, 2023

 

FINANCIAL MARKETS
AT A GLANCE

 

March 31, 2023

Canadian and U.S. equities were positive over the quarter. Yields fell through the quarter. Government bonds outperformed corporate bonds, and long-term bonds outpaced short-term bonds. Here are the financial markets at a glance.

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CANADIAN EQUITIES

 

U.S. EQUITIES

 

 

Sector
10 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
7 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

Information Technology

Information
Technology
 

Materials

Materials

Utilities

Utilities

23.7% Up arrow

8.1% Down arrow

6.7% Up arrow

Energy

Energy

Healthcare

Health Care

Financials

Financials

-4.2% Down arrow

1.3% Up arrow

1.7% Down arrow

 

Information Technology

Information
Technology
 

Communication Services

Communications
Services

21.7% Up arrow

20.4% Up arrow

Financials

Financials

Energy

Energy

-5.7% Down arrow

-4.8% Down arrow

 

 

Company size performance comparison 
Medium sized companies outperformed small and large sized companies, with large sized companies trailing but all were positive over the quarter.

 

Company size performance comparison 
Large sized companies outperformed both small and medium sized companies, but all were positive over the quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s working/What’s not working

From a style perspective, growth outperformed the index while value trailed but all were positive.
All factors and the index were positive this quarter, while dividends and low volatility outperformed, followed by quality. Momentum trailed the index.

 

What’s working/What’s not working

Growth outperformed while value trailed the index this quarter.
Factors were mixed this quarter, with quality outperforming the index while low volatility, dividends and momentum trailed.

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GLOBAL EQUITIES

 

FIXED INCOME

 

 

 

Regional 
 

INV-3005-FinancialMarketGlance-Global Equities-EN-2023-05

Company size performance comparison 
Global large and small companies were positive over the quarter.

Large Corporations Up arrow
Small Business Up arrow

Large Companies
Small Companies

What’s working/What’s not working

From a style perspective, growth outperformed the index. Value trailed the index but all were positive over the quarter.
Most factors were positive over the quarter and quality outperformed the index. Momentum was negative and underperformed the most.

 

Yields fell this quarter. Long-term bonds outperformed short-term bonds. Government bonds outperformed corporate bonds. 

Relative bond performance 

 

   Bond yield 

down arrow graph icon

 

Both shorter and longer date bond yields fell over the quarter.

Yield on the Canada 2-year fell from 4.06% to 3.74%.
Canada 5-year fell from 3.41% to 3.02%.
Canada 10-year fell from 3.30% to 2.89%.
Canada long bond fell from 3.28% to 3.02%.

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Source: Morningstar Research Inc. as of March 31, 2023. © 2023 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. 

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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 2023