Economic Data, Financial Markets, Investment Performance for Third Quarter 2011

In the latest issue of Segal Advisors’ quarterly e-publication, Synopsis, financial market conditions for the second quarter of 2011, are reviewed.

This issue includes new sections that cover investment performance for commodities, currencies, real estate, hedge funds and private equity. Beside the key indicators of the economy such as gross domestic product, U.S. monetary policy, break-even inflation and consumer sentiment, it also discusses the following noteworthy developments:

  • The strength of corporate finances, as illustrated by a graph showing continued growth in corporate cash as a percent of current assets for the Standard & Poor’s 500.
  • Data on returns of the companies in the S&P 1500 Index according to their quality ratings showing  that returns since March 2000 are generally higher for higher quality stocks than for lower quality stocks, although, in periods of economic recovery, lower quality stocks tend to perform better than higher quality stocks.
  • A comparison of the U.S. TED Spread, an indicator of credit risk in the general economy, and the European equivalent of that measurement.
  • The widening gap between U.S. federal government outlays and revenue, which is now at a level not experienced since World War II.

For see the entire issue, click here

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