Capital IdeasTM

Investment insights from Capital Group

Categories
Equity
World Markets Review - Fourth Quarter 2021

Global stocks ended the year with solid quarterly gains. Strong corporate earnings growth and ongoing government stimulus measures pushed markets to record highs despite the threat of rising inflation, higher interest rates and the rapid spread of the omicron coronavirus variant.


Information technology stocks rallied, gaining 13% as consumer-tech and semiconductor companies continued to drive markets higher. Utilities and real estate stocks also advanced amid a pronounced shift toward defensive sectors. Communication services stocks lost nearly 2% on concerns over slowing growth at some media and entertainment companies. Emerging markets stocks declined, hurt by slowing economic growth in China.


Bond markets came under pressure amid rising inflation and central bank actions to deal with it. The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) moved to reduce its bond-buying programme and indicated it will begin raising rates in 2022. The European Central Bank vowed to scale back its pandemic-related bond-buying activities. And the Bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in three years. Most U.S. bond sectors posted narrow gains, while global bonds generally declined.



Past results are not a guarantee of future results. The value of investments and income from them can go down as well as up and you may lose some or all of your initial investment. This information is not intended to provide investment, tax or other advice, or to be a solicitation to buy or sell any securities.

Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Capital Group or its affiliates. All information is as at the date indicated unless otherwise stated. Some information may have been obtained from third parties, and as such the reliability of that information is not guaranteed.