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Investing August 8, 2005
S&P: International Equities See Bullish July
August 8, 2005 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - July's 3.85% was
the best month so far for the S&P/Citigroup Developed
World Index, and its strong performance has vaulted the index
to a year-to-date return of 4.20%, S&P has
announced.
Reported by Fred Schneyer
An S&P news release said regions across the
developed world finished July in positive territory, and
remain there year-to-date. The North America, Europe
and Asia Pacific regions posted 4.18%, 3.76% and 2.70%
gains respectively in July, and are now up 4.71%, 4.30% and
1.97% since January 1, 2005. Individual country
returns ranged from 0.18% for Finland to 11.57% for South
Korea.
“Gains were widespread in July with every developed
world country posting increases, whether calculated in US
dollar or local currency terms,” said Nicholas Aninos,
analyst at Standard & Poor’s, in the news
release. “All of the major regions were in
positive territory during the month, whether investors used
cap-range, style, or industry to define their
universe.”
According to the S&P data, countries in the
S&P/Citigroup Emerging Markets Index registered July
performances ranging from a 5.08% giveback in Venezuela to
an 18.22% gain in Jordan. The three heavyweights,
Taiwan, South Africa and Brazil, posted strong gains of 3%,
7.66%, and 4.85% respectively during July. The
S&P/Citigroup Emerging Market Index increased 5.92%
during the month.
The S&P/Citigroup Global Composite Index returned 3.95%
for the month of July across developed and emerging
markets. Year-to-date, the Emerging Market Index leads with
an 11.59% gain, lifting the Global Composite to a 4.55%
increase, according to the announcement.