World Markets Review for February 2017 | Capital Group
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World Markets Review

March 2017

World Markets Review for February 2017

Global stocks advanced amid signs of improving economic growth in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Strong corporate earnings in some sectors and mergers-and-acquisitions activity also helped to support stock prices. Investor sentiment remained optimistic despite rising political uncertainty as election season approaches in Europe.

Defensive stocks generally outpaced economically sensitive sectors. Health care stocks enjoyed particularly strong gains, rebounding from depressed levels as U.S. political leaders debated sweeping changes to the nation’s health care system. The consumer staples sector also moved higher, driven in part by M&A. Energy stocks declined on disappointing earnings, flat oil prices and oversupply concerns.

Equity Index Returns (%)

February 2017

YTD 2017

U.S. Dollar %

Local %

U.S. Dollar %

Local %

S&P 500

4.0

4.0

5.9

5.9

MSCI ACWI

2.8

2.9

5.6

4.6

MSCI ACWI ex USA

1.6

1.9

5.2

2.9

MSCI World

2.8

3.1

5.3

4.4

MSCI Emerging Markets IMI

3.3

1.9

8.9

5.9

MSCI EAFE

1.4

2.1

4.4

2.2

MSCI Europe

1.2

2.8

3.3

2.4

MSCI Pacific

1.8

1.1

6.2

2.0

Source: RIMES

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Terms and Definitions
MSCI All Country World ex USA Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market results in the global developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. The index consists of more than 40 developed and emerging market country indexes. Results reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
MSCI All Country World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market results in the global developed and emerging markets, consisting of more than 40 developed and emerging market country indexes. Results reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure developed equity market results, excluding the United States and Canada. Results reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Markets Index measures large, mid and small-cap segments, covering approximately 99% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of more than 20 emerging equity markets.
MSCI Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure results of more than 10 developed equity markets in Europe. Results reflect dividends net of withholding taxes. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
MSCI Pacific Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization- weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market results across 5 Developed Markets countries in the Pacific region.
MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market results of developed markets. The index consists of more than 20 developed market country indexes, including the United States. Results reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
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