Returns for Major Global Financial Assets

Returns for Major Global Financial Assets April was a standout month for the S&P 500, which surged 10.5%, even as U.S. Treasuries came under pressure amid rising inflation concerns and fading hopes for Fed rate…

Net Foreign Purchases of Long-Term U.S. Securities

Net Foreign Purchases of Long-Term U.S. Securities Foreign appetite for U.S. securities is still going strong. For all the talk of a dollar exodus, the world’s money managers are behaving as if nothing has changed.…

S&P 500 Performance After April >5%

S&P 500 Performance After April >5% Since 1950, a 5%+ April rally has set the tone: May has risen 90% of the time, and the rest of the year has posted a median return of…

S&P 500 Returns in April

S&P 500 Returns in April With a 10.4% gain, the S&P 500 just posted its second-strongest April since 1950, a powerful boost that often spills into the rest of the year, especially alongside new highs.…

Valuation – MSCI World 12-Month Forward P/E

Valuation – MSCI World 12-Month Forward PE With global equities trading at 18.5 times forward earnings, valuations look stretched by historical standards. Not a bubble, but far from cheap. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

U.S. ETF and Mutual Fund Flows

U.S. ETF and Mutual Fund Flows Over the past 12 months, U.S. investors have poured more money into bonds and money market funds than into riskier equities, as geopolitical tensions linger and interest rates stay…

Annual Average IPO Return During First Trading Day

Annual Average IPO Return During First Trading Day In 2026, U.S. IPOs rose 19% on average in their first trading session, edging above the 30-year median and delivering a solid first-day pop. Image: Goldman Sachs…

Smoothed U.S. Recession Probabilities

Smoothed U.S. Recession Probabilities The probability of U.S. recession stands at 0.48%. When this recession indicator exceeds 5% (red line), history suggests that the probability of recession increases significantly. The chart shows the smoothed U.S.…

WTI Oil Prices in Real Terms

WTI Oil Prices in Real Terms The 2026 oil shock looks far less dramatic in historical terms. It still bites, just not with the same force. Once you adjust for inflation and reduced energy intensity,…

Central Bank Gold Purchases

Central Bank Gold Purchases Central bank gold buying eased to 863 tonnes in 2025 from 1,092 tonnes in 2024. Buying has cooled, but official-sector demand remains well above historical standards and continues to play a…