European Debt Crisis Unnerves All Equity Markets in May, Morningstar Canada
Data Show
TORONTO, June 2 /CNW/ - All the Morningstar Canada Fund Indices that track either equity or balanced fund categories posted losses in May, as the month marked the return of volatility levels not seen in financial markets since the depths of the credit crisis in early 2009. With the eurozone remaining a major source of global instability, other equity markets also retrenched in the month, according to preliminary performance data today released by Morningstar Canada.
With concerns mounting about liquidity and insolvency for Greece and some of its neighbours, the Morningstar European Equity Fund Index gave up 9%, the worst performance in May among all 43 Morningstar Canada Fund Indices. The decline in May compounds a month-earlier drop of 2.5%.
"Joint efforts by European finance ministers, the European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund served to shore up financial aid and help stave off the risks of sovereign default," said Neal Brandon, fund analyst for Morningstar Canada. "However, investors remained wary that the focus on subsequent austerity measures would largely subdue any prospects for regional growth."
The common currency for the 27-nation bloc also remained under pressure. "The Canadian dollar continued to gain ground on the euro in May, rising 4.8% to reach multi-year highs and further weighing on the performance of unhedged European equities," Brandon said.
At the same time, contagion developments were widespread, with few markets immune to Europe's troubles. The Morningstar International Equity Fund Index was second from the bottom, losing 7.7%, while the Morningstar Global Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Index fell 7.3% to take fourth place for losses among all indices. Meanwhile, the Morningstar Global Equity Fund Index and the Morningstar Emerging Markets Equity Fund Index were each down 6.3%.
Also among the 10 worst results in May was the Morningstar Canadian Focused Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Index, which fell 6.2%, matching the loss by the Morningstar US Equity Fund Index and nearly 1% worse than the 5.3% loss by its less-concentrated counterpart, the Morningstar Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Index.
Resources also felt the impact of economic uncertainty in May. "The ascent of oil prices witnessed early in the month quickly came under pressure as doubts surrounding European solidarity and the pace of Chinese demand threatened to derail the global recovery," Brandon said.
In a stark reversal from a months-long positive trend, the Morningstar Natural Resources Equity Fund Index ended May with a loss of 7.6% - the third-worst performance of all indices in the month. The index gained 3% a month earlier and was up 53.9% in 2009 for the year's best performance.
Positive results were few and modest in the month. While the Morningstar US Money Market Fund Index and the Morningstar Canadian Money Market Fund Index broke even, only five indices posted gains. All of the positive-performing indices are in fixed-income categories and four are focused on Canadian markets.
"For investors seeking a more defensive positioning, Canadian fixed-income markets proved to be a source of relative safety during the month," Brandon said. The best performer was the Morningstar Canadian Long Term Fixed Income Fund Index, which gained 2.1%, while the shorter-term mandates of the Morningstar Canadian Fixed Income Fund Index and the Morningstar Canadian Short Term Fixed Income Fund Index led to gains of 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Rounding out the top five, the Morningstar Short Term Fixed Income Global Fixed Income gained 0.5% and the Morningstar Canadian Inflation-Protected Fixed Income rose 0.4%.
For more on May fund performance, go to www.morningstar.ca.
Morningstar Canada's preliminary fund performance figures are based on change in funds' net asset values per share during the month, and do not necessarily include end-of-month income distributions. Final performance figures will be published on www.morningstar.ca next week.
About Morningstar
Morningstar Research Inc. is a Canadian subsidiary of Chicago-based Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of Internet, software, and print-based products and services for individuals, financial advisors, and institutions. Morningstar provides data on approximately 350,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 4 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. The company has operations in 20 countries and minority positions in companies based in two other countries.
For further information: For further information: Neal Brandon, Fund Analyst, Morningstar Canada, (416) 484-7821; Rudy Luukko, Investment Funds Editor, Morningstar Canada, (416) 484-7825
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