Falling Back in Love with International Stocks

This blog is from the February issue of Portfolio Perspectives.
 
The international stock markets have underperformed U.S. stock markets for three straight years.¹ China came out of the gate in 2016 like a lead balloon, causing other markets in Asia to decline as well. To make things worse, China devalued its currency, possibly signaling a pessimistic view of their economy and putting pressure on European countries to do the same.
 

Taking the Edge Off the Volatility Spikes

Despite a six-year bull market in equities, together we have been preparing for increased volatility all along. Why? Volatility is normal. Occasional corrections are expected yet unpredictable. We would like to share our thinking about the recent events, and help provide clarity and insight for clients.