• Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Media

2021 Mid-Year Review

Posted July 14, 2021 by Denis Smirnov

This time of the year I like to look through some of my performance spreadsheets to see how things are going in various investment areas. What a difference a year makes, here are some of my observations (all YTD Return numbers below are as of July 13, 2021).

S&P 500 has been steadily trending up all year and hasn’t been too far from all-time highs. The biggest pullback of 2021 so far was 4% back in early March and there’s been a couple of other 2-4% dips. On average the index has been within 0.7% of its high, which is a remarkable lack of price volatility.

Asset classes

  • With the exception of bonds and gold, most major assets are up
  • In an amazing turnaround, oil is up 55% this year (remember when it hit negative $37 a barrel?!)
  • Domestic stocks are still the best game in town outperforming everything else
  • Developed foreign stocks are doing pretty well also, while emerging markets are lagging
  • Bitcoin and Gold are the only assets that are double digit percentage off their 52-week highs, while most others are within couple of percent

Sectors & Industries

  • Related to oil price comment above, all manner of energy stocks are doing great (but look a still horrible longer-term returns)
  • After a poor 2020, financials and real estate are having a strong year
  • Homebuilders too, driven by a tight housing market
  • Technology areas is holding up fine but are no longer the leaders
  • Defensive sectors are at the bottom as investors bet on strong recovery

Foreign stocks

  • Of the major countries Canada and Russia are in the lead (again, oil price related)
  • U.S. is not far behind though
  • European nations are doing ok
  • China and Japan are at the bottom so far this year

Fixed Income

  • After a massive 2020, most bonds flavors are taking a break as interest rates bounce off all-time lows
  • Riskier and equity-like instruments are doing best which is not surprising given stock performance
  • Rate-sensitive groups are down close to 10% but again, look at 2020 returns to put things in perspective
  • Moreover, 10-year Treasury rate topped out in March and has been dropping lately as investors fret about strength of the recovery, which is driving bond prices up

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pocket
  • Email

Sign up to the newsletter

Categories

  • Bear Markets
  • Bonds
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Financial Planning
  • Indexing
  • Investing
  • IPO
  • Retirement
  • Taxes
  • Uncategorized
  • Valuation

Archives

  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
About
  • Background
  • Who We Are
  • The Gordian Knot
Services
  • Services
  • Planning Process
  • Investment Philosophy
Contact
  • Contact Details
  • Inquiry Form
  • Map
Media
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Reviews
Dave
Denis
 
 
 
 

Gordian Advisors Financial Planner

Office: 2200 E. River Rd., Suite 109, Tucson, AZ 85718

Phone: 520-615-2779

Email: info@gordianadvisors.com

Download Form Form CRS Client Relationship Summary

Download Form ADV Disclosure Brochure

Gordian Advisors may only transact business or render personalized investment advice in those states where we are registered, or have filed notice, or are otherwise excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as investment advice. Nothing on this web-site should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future performance. Although this information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, please note that individual situations may vary. Therefore, any information should be relied upon only when coordinated with individual professional advice.