The world is changing rapidly and in ways that can be hard to predict. The frequency of unexpected political and economic shocks has accelerated. Heightened geopolitical risks favour assets that are considered safe havens such as the US dollar, Swiss franc, Treasuries, and gold. The US dollar remains the world’s reserve currency. In September we maintained the FGAM U.S. twelve-month forward outlook to reflect our view for Growth (U.S. Real GDP growth greater than 2.5%) over the next twelve- month period, in response to the strong U.S. annualized 3.0% growth. 

China’s annual inflation rate edged up to 0.6% in August 2024 from 0.5% in July,1 while their surveyed unemployment rate was at 5.3% in August.2 The GDP in the Eurozone expanded 0.6% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024. Exports were up 1.7% while imports declined 1.1%.3 Annual inflation rate in the Eurozone eased to 2.2% in August 2024,4 while unemployment in the Euro Area decreased to 6.4% in July from 6.5% in June of 2024.5

Final sales of domestic product in the United States increased an annualized 2.2% in the second quarter of 2024, accelerating from the 1.8% in the first quarter and above the flash estimate of a 2% growth.6 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. slowed for a fifth consecutive month to 2.5% in August 2024,7 while the unemployment rate in the United States eased to 4.2% in August of 2024.8 The trade deficit in the U.S. widened to $78.8 billion in July 2024. Exports increased 0.5% while imports soared 2.1%, the highest value since March 2022. The deficit with China increased as exports decreased $1.0 billion to $11.5 billion and imports were up $3.9 billion to $38.7 billion. The trade gap with Canada also widened by $3.0 billion to $7.6 billion, as exports fell and imports rose.9 The Canadian economy advanced by 0.5% in the second quarter of 2024. On an annualized basis, Canadian GDP grew by 2.1% in Q2.10 The annual inflation rate in Canada decelerated for the third month to hit 2% in August 2024, reaching the central bank’s target for the first time in over three years,11 while the unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.6% in August of 2024 from 6.4% in the earlier month.12 Canada recorded a trade surplus of CAD 0.68 billion in July as exports dropped by 0.4% to CAD 65.7 billion and imports fell by 1.7% to CAD 65 billion.13

Optimism surrounding a soft landing and encouraging inflation results led U.S. large cap equities to finish August with a gain of 2.4%. The S&P Mid Cap and the S&P Small Cap were down 0.1% and 1.4% respectively. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside with the S&P/TSX Composite up 1.2%.  The S&P Europe 350 recovered the 6% drop it suffered in the first three trading days of August to close the month up 1.6%. All but one of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns this month, with Portugal the only detractor.

In September we maintained the asset allocation from August. This reflects our expectation of a broader recovery across all market capitalizations as the U.S. economy strengthens. We continue to maintain short duration U.S. fixed income exposure as we are in early growth with interest rates in the U.S. holding at current levels. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models at this transition point from Stagnation to Growth.

Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will continue to dominate our outlook. While geopolitical turmoil leads to greater volatility, history has shown that periods of volatility create the opportunity to deploy capital in asset allocations that recognise the nature of the economic environment.  Our twelve- month forward outlook will continue to monitor the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China Inflation. September 9, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. September 14, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. EU GDP. September 6, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. September 18, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. August 30, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. August 29, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U. S. Inflation. September 11, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. September 6, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. September 4, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. August 30, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. September 17, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. September 6, 2024.

13 Trading Economics. Canada Trade. September 4, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. August 31, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

Global economies are experiencing synchronised stimulus. In June the European Central Bank reduced rates for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. In July policymakers at the Bank of England voted to cut rates. Other central banks, ranging from those in Canada and Chile to Denmark, are also in on the action with the U.S. expected to follow. In the second quarter of this year the combined real GDP of the OECD grew by 1.8% year on year, the fastest since the end of lockdowns. Unemployment in the OECD remains around 5%. It has edged up from earlier in the year, but job growth remains reasonably strong. This likely reflects the fact that modern economies are less sensitive to interest-rate changes, owing to a decline in capital-intensive industries such as housebuilding and manufacturing.1 In August we maintained the FGAM U.S. twelve-month forward outlook to reflect our view for Growth (U.S. Real GDP growth greater than 2.5%) over the next twelve- month period, in response to the strong U.S. annualized 3.0% growth.

China’s annual inflation rate climbed to 0.5% in July,2 while the surveyed unemployment rate increased to 5.2% from 5% in each of the previous three months.3 China’s trade surplus widened as exports rose 7.0% year-on-year, while imports rose 7.2%, rebounding from a 2.3% fall in the previous month.4 The Euro Area GDP expanded 0.3% in Q2 2024. Key economies were France, Italy, and Spain. Germany, the largest economy, contracted 0.1%, as the industrial sector continues to be strained by high interest rates.5 The annual inflation rate in the Euro Area rose to 2.6% in July, followed by a decline to 2.2% in August.6 The unemployment rate in the Euro Area decreased to 6.4% in July.7

Real gross domestic product (GDP) in the U.S. grew at an annual rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024, up from 1.4% in the first quarter.8 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. slowed for a fourth consecutive month to 2.9% in July 2024,9 while the unemployment rate rose to 4.3% from 4.1% in the previous month.10 The Canadian economy advanced by 0.5% in the second quarter of 2024, marking its second consecutive quarter of expansion.11 Canada recorded a trade surplus of CAD 0.64 billion in June, the first since February. Exports surged by 5.5% while imports rose by 1.9%.12 The core inflation rate in Canada rose 0.3% from a month earlier in July,13 while the unemployment rate was 6.4%.14

The U.S. market witnessed a rotation towards smaller-cap stocks in July. The S&P 500 was up 1.2% while the S&P Mid-Cap 400 was up 5.8% and the S&P Small-Cap 600 was up 10.8% in July. Canadian equities finished July on the upside. The S&P/TSX Composite increased 5.9%. The S&P Europe 350 started the second half on the front foot, gaining 1.3%, in July. 11 of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns, with the United Kingdom the biggest positive contributor with +0.8%. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Netherlands subtracted 0.5% from the S&P Europe 350’s return. Pan Asia equities marched higher in July, with the S&P Pan Asia BMI rising 2.4%.

In August we maintained the asset allocation from July. This reflects our expectation of a broader recovery across all market capitalizations as the U.S. economy strengthens. We continue to maintain short duration U.S. fixed income exposure as we are in early growth with interest rates in the U.S. holding at current levels. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models at this transition point from Stagnation to Growth.

Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will continue to dominate our outlook. Our twelve- month forward outlook will continue to monitor the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 The Economist. “Inflation is down and a recession is unlikely.” August 3, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Inflation. August 9, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. August 15, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. China Trade. August 7, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. Europe GDP. August 14, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. Europe Inflation. August 20, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. Europe Unemployment. August 30, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. August 29, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. August 14, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. August 2, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. August 30, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Trade. August 6, 2024.

13 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. August 20, 2024.

14 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. August 9, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. July 31, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

The FOMC met on June 11th, holding interest rates unchanged and maintaining the 2024 outlook of a 4.0% unemployment rate while expecting inflation to decline to 2.6% at year-end 2024 and to be 2.3% at year-end 2025. The U.S. market has continued to support a delaying Fed, as the economy and profits continue to grow, while accepting geopolitical issues (Gaza, Ukraine, foreign election shifts) and the uncertainty around the pending U.S. election. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada lowered interest rates by 0.25% to 4.75% for the first time since March 2020. They were joined by Sweden’s Riksbank, the Swiss National Bank, and the ECB. In July we updated the FGAM U.S. twelve-month forward outlook to reflect our view for Growth (U.S. Real GDP growth greater than 2.5%) over the next twelve- month period, in response to the strong U.S. annualized 2.8% growth in Q2, up from 1.4% in Q1 2024.

China’s annual inflation rate edged down to 0.2% in June,1 while China’s surveyed unemployment rate stood at 5%.2 China’s trade surplus surged to USD 99.05 billion in June, the largest trade surplus since July 2022, as exports grew 8.6% from a year earlier, the fastest pace in 15 months, while imports dropped by 2.3%.3 The annual inflation rate in the Euro Area was confirmed at 2.5% in June 2024. Among the bloc’s largest economies, inflation slowed in Germany (2.5% vs 2.8%), France (2.5% vs 2.6%) and Spain (3.6% vs 3.8%) but edged higher in Italy (0.9% vs 0.8%).4 The unemployment rate in the Euro Area stood at an all-time low of 6.4% in May.5

The U.S. economy expanded an annualized 2.8% in Q2, up from 1.4% in Q1. Net trade dragged growth for a 2nd consecutive quarter as imports rose faster (6.9% vs 6.1%) than exports (2% vs 1.6%).6 The trade deficit in the U.S. widened to $75.1 billion in May 2024, the largest since October 2022 from a revised $74.5 billion in April. Exports also fell for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines, in particular trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles. The trade gap widened with Mexico ($14.8 billion vs $13.7 billion in April) and China ($24 billion vs $20.1 billion), while the gap with Europe narrowed to $22.7 billion from $25.9 billion.7 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. fell for a third straight month to 3% in June.8 The unemployment rate in the United States rose to 4.1% in June, the highest since November 2021.9 The Canadian economy expanded by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2024, accelerating from a downwardly revised flat reading in the previous period. Imports of goods and services saw a modest increase of 0.4%, while exports experienced a slightly higher rise of 0.5%.10 The annual inflation rate in Canada eased to 2.7% in June,11 while the unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.4% in June from 6.2% in the earlier month.12

Powered by mega-cap outperformance, U.S. large-cap equities surged upward, with the S&P 500 up 4.3% in Q2 2024. Mid and small caps lagged, the with the S&P Mid Caps and S&P Small Caps down 3.5% and 3.1% respectively in Q2. Canadian equities finished the quarter on the downside as the S&P/TSX Composite declined 0.5% in Q2. The S&P Europe 350 took a breather in June, slipping 1.0% to trim its year-to-date gain to 9.8%. Three of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns in June, with the Netherlands the biggest positive contributor with +0.3%, while France subtracted 1.1%. Pan Asia equities advanced in June, with the S&P Pan Asia BMI rising 1.9% to post a 6.8% return for the first half of 2024.

In July we updated the asset allocation from June, reducing the 3–7-year treasury exposure across the board by 10% and putting that allocation in U.S. small caps. This reflects our expectation of a broader recovery across all market capitalizations as the U.S. economy strengthens. We continue to maintain short duration U.S. fixed income exposure as we are in early growth with interest rates in the U.S. holding at current levels. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models at this transition point from Stagnation to Growth.

Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will continue to dominate our outlook. Our twelve- month forward outlook will continue to monitor the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China Inflation. July 10, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. July 15, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Trade. July 12, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. July 17, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. July 2, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. July 25, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. July 3, 2024.

8 Trading Economics, U.S. Inflation, July 11, 2024

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. July 5, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. May 30, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. July 16, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. July 1, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. June 30, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

Global economic momentum continues to improve with mixed results among the G7. The U.S. FOMC met in early June, focusing on inflation that has remained higher than target, supporting the position to leave rates unchanged. The Bank of Canada and European Central Bank, however, began rate-cut cycles in June; the first G7 central banks to do so. While the Canadian economy will benefit from interest rate relief, overall economic momentum is forecast to remain subdued as indebted consumers continue to adjust. In June we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation (U.S. Real GDP growth between 0 and 2.5%) over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

The Consumer Price Index in China decreased 0.10% in May of 2024 over the previous month to 0.3%.1 China’s surveyed unemployment rate stood at 5%, unchanged from April’s five-month low.2 China’s trade surplus widened to USD 82.62 billion in May. Exports advanced 7.6% from a year earlier, while imports increased by 1.8%.3 The Eurozone economy expanded 0.3% on quarter in the first three months of 2024, recovering from a 0.1% contraction in each of the previous two quarters.4 Annual inflation in the Euro Area increased to 2.6% in May 2024 from 2.4% in each of the previous two months. Prices rebounded for energy (0.3% vs -0.6%) and rose faster for services (4.1% vs 3%).5 The unemployment rate in the Euro Area was 6.4% in April 2024, down from 6.5% in each of the prior five months. Across the major Euro Area economies, Spain continues to grapple with the highest unemployment rate, standing at 11.7%, followed by France at 7.3% and Italy at 6.9%. In contrast, Germany recorded the lowest rate at 3.2%.6

It was confirmed that the U.S. economy expanded an annualized 1.3% in Q1 2024, mainly due to a downward revision in consumer spending.7 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. slowed to 3.3% in May, the lowest in three months.8 The unemployment rate in the United States rose to 4%.9 The trade deficit in the U.S. widened to $74.6 billion in April 2024. Imports increased 8.7% to $338.2 billion while exports edged up 0.8% to $263.7 billion.10 The Canadian economy was confirmed to have expanded by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2024.11 Canada’s annual core inflation rate accelerated to 1.8% in May from April’s three-year low of 1.6%.12 The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.2% in May from 6.1% in the earlier month, the highest since October of 2021.13 

U.S. Large Cap equities posted their best performance since February, up 5.0% in May. Mid- Caps and Small- Caps were up 4.4% and 5.0% respectively. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside. The S&P/TSX Composite increased 2.8%. The S&P Europe 350 was up 3.5% in May to extend its YTD gain to 10.9%. All 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity return, with Switzerland the biggest positive contributor, up +0.9%. Pan Asia equities rebounded along with global equities, with the S&P Pan Asia BMI rising 1.6% in May. Emerging market regions of the S&P Pan Asia BMI continued to outperform their developed counterparts, widening their year-to-date return differential to 5%.

In June we maintained the asset allocation from May. Due to an underperforming Canadian economy, we continue to avoid Canadian exposure as we expect the BoC to cut interest rates earlier and more than the Fed this year. We continue to focus on short duration U.S. fixed income exposure across all models. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation.

 Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will continue to dominate our outlook. Our twelve- month forward outlook focuses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. We will continue to monitor this as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China Inflation. June 12, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. June 17, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Trade. June 7, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU GDP. June 7, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. June 18, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. May 30, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. May 30, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. June 12, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. June 7, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. June 6, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. May 31, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. June 25, 2024.

13 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. June 7, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. May 31, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

The global economy has avoided a recession in the face of supply-chain disruptions in the aftermath of the pandemic, a Russian-initiated war on Ukraine that triggered a global energy and food crisis, and a surge in inflation, followed by a globally synchronized monetary policy tightening. It remains resilient, with growth holding steady as inflation returns to target. On a year-over-year basis, global growth bottomed out at the end of 2022, shortly after median headline inflation peaked. According to projections from the International Monetary Fund, growth for 2024 and 2025 will hold steady around 3.2%, with median headline inflation declining from 2.8% at the end of 2024 to 2.4% at the end of 2025.1 Most indicators point to a soft landing. In May we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation (U.S. Real GDP growth between 0 and 2.5%) over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

China’s trade surplus in US dollars decreased to 72.35 billion in April from 86.46 billion in the same period a year earlier, as exports grew much less than imports.2 China’s annual inflation rate rose to 0.3% in April 2024.3 The Eurozone economy expanded 0.3% on quarter in the first three months of 2024, with German GDP rebounding (0.2% vs -0.5%) and France (0.2% vs 0.1%) and Italy (0.3% vs 0.1%) expanding at a faster pace.4 Annual inflation in the Euro Area was confirmed at 2.4% in April, nearing the 2% target.5 The unemployment rate in the Euro Area stood at a record low of 6.5% in March. Across the major Euro Area economies, Spain continues to report the highest jobless rate at 11.7%, followed by France at 7.3% and Italy at 7.2%.6 The Eurozone posted a trade surplus in March. Among major trading partners, imports fell from China, the U.S., the U.K., Russia, and Norway. Exports fell 9.2%, declining to the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, and Russia.7

Annual inflation in the US eased to 3.4% in April from 3.5% in March.8 The unemployment rate edged up to 3.9% in April from 3.8% in the previous month.9 The annual inflation rate in Canada eased to 2.7% in April from 2.9% in the earlier month.10 The unemployment rate was at 6.1% in April.11 Canada reported a trade deficit of CAD 2.3 billion in March.12

As growing concerns surrounding rising inflation and the resulting hawkish sentiment from the Fed led to market jitters, U.S. equities declined in April, with the S&P 500 down 4.1%. Mid- and small caps fared worse, down 6.0% and 5.6% respectively. The S&P/TSX Composite declined 1.8%. The S&P Europe 350 slipped 0.7% in April, its first monthly loss since October 2023, trimming its year- to -date gain to 7.2%. Seven of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns, with the United Kingdom the biggest positive contributor with +0.7%. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Switzerland subtracted 0.5% from the S&P Europe 350’s return. The S&P Pan Asia BMI lost 1.2% in April. 

In May we maintained the asset allocation from April. We do not anticipate the commencement of rate reductions in the U.S. in June due to current strong economic factors and recent comments made by the Fed. Alternatively, due to an underperforming Canadian economy, we expect the BoC to cut interest rates earlier and more than the Fed this year. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation.

The nature of economic cycles is changing. Medium-term growth prospects remain historically weak in line with lower total factor productivity growth. A significant part of the decline comes from increased misallocation of capital and labor within sectors and countries. Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will continue to dominate our outlook. Our twelve- month forward outlook focuses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. We will continue to monitor this as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 International Monetary Fund. April 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Trade. May 9, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Inflation. May 11, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU GDP. May 15, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. May 17, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. May 3, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. EU Trade. May 21, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. May 15, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. May 3, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. May 21, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. May 10, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Trade. May 2, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. April 30, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

Markets anticipate easing policies from major central banks starting in June, driven by ongoing inflation normalization and a shift toward recession prevention. For Canada, we look for a first cut in June compared to the first expected move from the Fed in December as higher interest rates are having a large impact on the Canadian labor market. In April we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation (U.S. Real GDP growth between 0 and 2.5%), over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

The Chinese economy grew by a seasonally adjusted 1.6% in Q1 of 2024, quickening from an upwardly revised 1.2% increase in the previous quarter.1 The Consumer Price Index in China decreased 1% in March over the previous month.2 China’s trade surplus declined to USD 58.55 billion in March. Exports shrank by 7.5%, while imports fell by 1.9%.3 The consumer price inflation rate in the Euro Area was confirmed at 2.4% year-on-year in March.4 The unemployment rate in the Euro Area stood at a record low of 6.5% in February 2024. Across the major Euro Area economies, Spain continues to report the highest jobless rate at 11.5%, followed by Italy at 7.5% and France at 7.4%.5

The U.S. economy expanded an annualized 3.4% in Q4 2023. Government spending rose 4.6%.6 Annual inflation in the U.S. accelerated for a second month to 3.5% in March. Energy costs rose 2.1%.7 The unemployment rate in the United States dipped to 3.8% in March. The labor force participation rate increased to 62.7%.8 The trade deficit in the U.S. widened to $68.9 billion in February 2024, the highest in ten months.9 The annual inflation rate in Canada rose to 2.9% in March of 2024. A sharp rise in gasoline prices (4.5% vs 0.8% in February) pushed transportation inflation to 3%. Looking further, a prolonged period of restrictive interest rates by the Bank of Canada, in addition to increasing Treasury yields in the U.S., lifted mortgage interest costs by 25.4% annually. As a result, average rents grew faster (8.5%), keeping rents inflation at 6.5%.10 The unemployment rate in Canada jumped to 6.1% in March from 5.8% in the earlier month.11

Despite uncertainty surrounding potential Fed rate cuts, economic strength and diminishing recession fears led to the best Q1 U.S. market performance since 2019, with the S&P 500 up 10.6%. The broadening of the rally continued in March, with the S&P Mid Cap 400 up 5.6%, outpacing the S&P 500 3.2% gain. Canadian equities finished the month up 4.1%. The S&P Europe 350 soared 4.1% in March, its best month since November 2023. All but one of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns in March, with the United Kingdom the biggest contributor with 1.0%. Pan Asia equities rebounded but continued to lag the global market, with the S&P Pan Asia BMI rising 2.6% in March.

In April we reversed the asset allocation shift from March, reintroducing exposure to 3-to-7-year treasuries and removing the 20-year plus treasury bond. We no longer anticipate the commencement of rate reductions in the U.S. in June due to current strong economic factors and recent comments made by the Fed. Alternatively, due to an underperforming Canadian economy, we expect the BoC to cut interest rates earlier and more than the Fed this year. U.S. Mid-cap equities continue to provide an industrial-centric sector allocation, ebbing refinancing risk and less demanding valuations relative to mega caps. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset as it will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation.

The nature of economic cycles is changing. Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will increasingly dominate outlooks. A long list of fiscal commitments, ranging from military to climate-transition expenditure, will keep government budgets in deficit, particularly in Europe. As elections approach, countries will likely loosen fiscal policy further—the U.S. and the U.K. being prime examples in 2024. Our twelve- month forward outlook focuses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. We will continue to monitor this as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China GDP. April 16, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Inflation. April 11, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Trade. April 12, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU GDP. April 17, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. April 3, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. March 28, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. April 10, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. April 5, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. April 4, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. April 16, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. April 5, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. March 31, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

As anticipated, the FOMC voted in March to leave the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50%. This was the fifth consecutive stand pat decision, all of which have been unanimous. Broadening global economic activity should help broaden investment performance, which has been narrowly concentrated in U.S. mega-cap equities. Bull markets have begun to take hold in a diverse collection of global markets including Japan, Brazil, Italy, Denmark, and India. In March we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation (U.S. Real GDP growth between 0 and 2.5%), over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

China’s consumer prices rose by 0.7% year over year in February,1 while China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.3%.2 China’s trade surplus increased in February as exports grew by 7.1%, while imports climbed by 3.5%. The trade surplus with the United States saw exports rising 5% while imports declined by 9.7%.3 Annual core inflation in the Euro Area fell for a seventh straight month to 3.1% in February 2024.4 The Eurozone posted a trade surplus of €11.4 billion in January 2024, compared with a deficit of €32.6 billion in the same period last year. Exports rose 1.3% year-on-year. Among key trading partners, exports increased mainly to the U.S., Japan, and Switzerland, but dropped to Russia, China, and Norway. Meanwhile, imports slipped by 16.1%, primarily from China, the U.S., Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Japan, and India.5

The U.S. economy expanded an annualized 3.4% in Q4 2023, supported by consumer spending and non-residential business investments, according to the third estimate from the BEA.6 The annual core consumer price inflation rate in the United States eased to a near three-year low of 3.8% in February.7  The unemployment rate in the United States rose by 0.2 percentage points to 3.9% in February.8 U.S. imports rose by 1.1% while exports increased at a much slower rate of 0.2%.9 The Canadian economy expanded by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023, recovering from a revised 0.1% contraction in the previous period. The country’s exports of goods and services rebounded by 1.4%, largely due to crude oil and crude bitumen sales (+6.2%). Meanwhile, imports of goods and services declined by 0.4%.10 The annual inflation rate in Canada slowed further to 2.8% in February,11 while the unemployment rate in Canada rose to 5.8%.12

Markets shook off looming concerns over inflation and the Fed’s future rate trajectory with more record highs in February, driving the S&P 500 up 5.3%. While Small Caps lagged, the S&P Midcap 400 was up 5.9%. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside. The S&P/TSX Composite rose 1.8%. The S&P Europe 350 extended its January gains in February, up 2.0% during the month. 8 of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns, with Germany the biggest contributor with 0.6%. Pan Asia equities rebounded but continued to lag the global market, with the S&P Pan Asia BMI rising 3.6% in February. China led the pack with the S&P China 500 bouncing back from its multi-year lows and closing the month up 9.3%.

In March we shifted the asset allocation, reducing exposure to 3-to-7-year treasuries and adding the 20-year plus treasury bond in anticipation of the commencement of rate reductions in the U.S. U.S. Mid-cap equities continue to provide an industrial-centric sector allocation, ebbing refinancing risk and less demanding valuations relative to mega caps. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset alongside bonds as they will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation.

The nature of economic cycles is changing. Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will increasingly dominate outlooks. A long list of fiscal commitments, ranging from military to climate-transition expenditure, will keep government budgets in deficit, particularly in Europe. As elections approach, countries will likely loosen fiscal policy further—the U.S. and the U.K. being prime examples in 2024. Our twelve- month forward outlook focusses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. We will continue to monitor this as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China Inflation. March 9, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. March 18, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. China Trade. March 7, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. March 18, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. EU Trade. March 18, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. March 28, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. March 12, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. March 8, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. March 28, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. February 29, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. March 19, 2024.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. March 8, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. February 29, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

The global economy has displayed impressive resilience in the face of aggressive monetary tightening with GDP rising 2.9% over the past four quarters.1 Domestic output gaps are expected to be far more important in determining inflation in a particular economy than has been seen over the past 20 years of globalization. The result will be shorter and more frequent cycles, accompanied by more volatility and higher inflation, resulting in global growth occurring at a slower rate. In February we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation (U.S. Real GDP growth between 0 and 2.5%), over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

China’s consumer prices fell by 0.8% year over year in January.2 The Euro Area economy stagnated in the last quarter of 2023, as persistently high inflation, record borrowing costs, and weak external demand continued to exert downward pressure on growth. Among the bloc’s largest economies, Germany contracted by 0.3%, while France’s GDP stalled. In contrast, economic growth in Spain and Italy accelerated to 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively.3 The Eurozone posted a €16.8 billion trade surplus in December 2023, compared to a deficit of €8.5 billion in the same period last year. Imports tumbled by 18.7%, mainly from Russia, Norway, the U.K., Switzerland, and China. Exports declined by 8.8%, primarily to Russia, Norway, Switzerland, and Japan.4

The U.S. economy expanded an annualized 3.2% in Q4 2023. In 2023, the U.S. economy grew 2.5%, compared to 1.9% in 2022.5 The unemployment rate in the United States held at 3.7% in January 2024.6 U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $773.4 billion in 2023. Imports fell 3.6% due to the lower cost of oil and the slowdown in demand for goods. Exports rose 1.2%.7 The Canadian economy expanded by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023, recovering from a revised 0.1% contraction in the previous period, helped by higher exports. The country’s exports of goods and services rebounded by 1.4%, largely due to crude oil and crude bitumen sales. On an annual basis, real GDP grew 1.1%, the third consecutive year of expansion but at the slowest pace since 2016 (2020 excluded), as the economy faced pressure from high-interest rates.8 The unemployment rate in Canada eased to 5.7% in January.9

Despite a sharp drop on the final trading day of the month, the S&P 500 rose 1.7% in January. Strong Q4 2023 economic growth also dampened optimism that the Fed would be able to begin cutting rates as soon as March. Interest rate volatility led to mixed results among fixed income indices. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside. The S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.6%. The S&P Europe 350 started the year on the front foot, rising by 1.7% in January. 11 out of 16 countries contributed positively to the pan-European equity returns, with the Netherlands the biggest contributor with 0.6%. Pan Asia equities continued to lag the global market with the S&P Pan Asia BMI falling 1.7% in January. The drawdown in Chinese/Hong Kong stocks deepened with the S&P China 500 closing the month at its lowest level since August 2016.

In February we maintained the asset allocation from January. U.S. companies are generally in good shape but will be impacted by refinancing debt at higher rates and capital spending will likely slow. We continue to exclude Canadian exposure as Canada is a worse off on the consumer side, due to shorter-term mortgages compared to the U.S. Gold is held across all models as a long-term strategic asset alongside bonds as they provide returns in a wide range of economic conditions. The diversification and risk reduction advantages of fixed income relative to equities will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation.

The nature of economic cycles is changing. Fiscal policy and electoral cycles will increasingly dominate outlooks. A long list of fiscal commitments, ranging from military to climate-transition expenditure, will keep government budgets in deficit, particularly in Europe. As elections approach, countries will likely loosen fiscal policy further—the U.S. and the U.K. being prime examples in 2024. Our twelve- month forward outlook focusses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. We will continue to monitor this as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 IMF. World Economic Outlook Update. January 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China CPI. February 8, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. EU GDP. February 14, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU Trade. February 15, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. February 28, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. February 2, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. February 24, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. Canadian GDP. February 29, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. Canadian Unemployment. February 24, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. January 31, 2024. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

Global fourth-quarter data has provided evidence that the recovery remains on solid footing, pointing to continued, but slower growth in the first three months of 2024. In the U.S., layoffs remain low, and job growth has held steady. Cooling inflation has meant that wages are now rising faster than prices. In January we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation over the entire period. Stagnation will put downward pressure on rates, as moderating inflation will lead to less restrictive monetary policy.

China’s economy grew 5.2% in 2023. China’s consumer prices fell by 0.3% in December.1 China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate inched up to 5.1% in December.2 The inflation rate in the Euro Area was confirmed at 2.9% in December.3 The Euro Area posted a trade surplus of EUR 20.3 billion in November 2023. Imports tumbled by 16.7%, while exports fell at softer 4.7%.4

The U.S. economy continued to grow at a healthy pace at the end of 2023, capping a year in which unemployment remained low, inflation cooled, and a widely predicted recession never materialized.  Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, grew at a 3.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter, down from the 4.9% rate in the third quarter.5 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. went up to 3.4% in December from a five-month low of 3.1% in November.6 The unemployment rate in the United States held at 3.7% in December, influenced by a slowdown in new entries into the labor force.7 The U.S. trade gap narrowed to $63.2 billion in November. Total exports were down 1.9%, prompted by a fall in sales of nonmonetary gold and crude oil. Total imports fell 1.9%. The deficit decreased with China and the European Union but increased with Switzerland.8 The annual inflation rate in Canada rose to 3.4% in December.9 The unemployment rate in Canada was at 5.8% in December.10 Canada recorded a trade surplus of CAD 1.6 billion in November of 2023. Foreign purchases rose for 8 of 11 product sections, led by an increase in energy imports (11.6%) amid significant buying of uranium for Kazakhstan, consistent with mining troubles from domestic mines.11

After a dismal 2022, the market recovered with a vengeance in 2023. The S&P 500 finished with a 26.3% return for the year. The strength of the Magnificent Seven powered those gains throughout, pushing the mega-cap S&P 500 Top 50 up 38%. The S&P Mid Cap 400 and S&P Small Cap 600 rose 16.4% and 16.1%. Strong gains in gold helped Precious Metals rise 11.5%, but Agriculture, Industrial Metals, and Energy posted losses. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside with the S&P/TSX Composite rising 3.9%. The S&P Europe 350 soared 3.7% in the final month to finish 2023 with a 16.8% total return. Fifteen of sixteen countries contributed positively to pan-European equity returns this year. The heavyweight French market was the brightest spot, contributing +3.3%. Germany and the United Kingdom also made major contributions of 2.5% and 2.3%, respectively. Finland was the only country that slipped in 2023, subtracting 0.05% from the S&P Europe 350’s annual return. The S&P Pan Asia BMI rose 4.7% in December after an 8% rally in November, closing the year with a total return of 12.8%.

In January we maintained the asset allocation from December. We continue to hold gold across all models. Gold is considered a long-term strategic asset alongside bonds as it provides returns in a wide range of economic conditions. The diversification and risk reduction advantages of fixed income relative to equities will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation, with longer duration bonds eventually being added back into the mix.

Our twelve- month forward outlook focusses on the size and scale of the U.S. budget deficit, coupled with the substantial Treasury debt issuance required to address it. The outlook for deficits will be a driver of rate-market volatility in 2024, especially around quarterly refunding announcements and longer-dated Treasury auctions. In addition, the U.S. presidential election outcome could precipitate a material rise in yields and volatility. A Republican control of Congress would dampen any move toward entitlement reform, raise market expectations that the 2017 tax cuts would be extended, and increase the odds that corporate tax increases in the Inflation Reduction Act would be eliminated. Progress on fiscal reform would be kicked down the road. We will continue to monitor these as we move through 2024. Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China GDP. January 12, 2024.

2 Trading Economics. China Unemployment. January 17, 2024.

3 Trading Economics. EU Inflation. January 17, 2024.

4 Trading Economics. EU Trade. January 15, 2024.

5 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. January 25, 2024.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. Inflation. January 11, 2024.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. January 5, 2024.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. January 9, 2024.

9 Trading Economics. Canada Inflation. January 16, 2024.

10 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. January 5, 2024.

11 Trading Economics. Canada Trade. January 9, 2024.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. December 31, 2023. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.

Despite some bumps along the way, the global economy proved resilient in 2023. Alongside an economic deceleration, we expect inflation to cool sufficiently for central banks to begin cutting rates, helping to avert a contraction in the economy. While the Fed’s goal is to pull off a soft landing, the odds are against it. Historically, the Fed has managed a soft landing only twice following nine tightening cycles over the past five decades. The other seven ended in a recession. In December we maintained our U.S. twelve -month forward looking outlook to reflect our view for Stagnation over the entire period.

China’s consumer prices fell by 0.5% in November 2023.1 China’s trade surplus increased to USD 68.39 billion in November 2023 from USD 66.49 billion in the same period the previous year. The trade surplus with the United States narrowed, with exports falling 5.2% while imports shrank 6.0%.2 The Eurozone economy contracted by 0.1% during the third quarter of 2023. Among the bloc’s largest economies, there were contractions in Germany (-0.1%), France (-0.1%), and the Netherlands (-0.2%), while both Spain and Italy expanded by 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively.3 Euro area annual inflation was 2.4% in November 2023, down from 2.9% in October 2023.4 The Euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.5% in October 2023, unchanged from the prior month.5 

The U.S. economy expanded an annualized 5.2% in Q3 2023. Exports soared 6% and imports increased 5.2%.6 The annual inflation rate in the U.S. slowed to 3.1%. Energy costs dropped 5.4%.7 The unemployment rate in the United States fell to 3.7% in November of 2023 from 3.9% in the previous month.8 The U.S. trade gap widened slightly to $64.3 billion in October 2023. Total exports went down 1%. Meanwhile, imports edged up a meager 0.2%.9 The Canadian GDP contracted by 0.3% in the third quarter of 2023, underscoring that higher interest rates from the Bank of Canada are being transmitted to a greater extent to the Canadian economy, backtracking from robust growth earlier in the year.10 The annual inflation rate in Canada was at 3.1% in November of 2023. Elevated inflation was attributed to higher mortgage interest costs (29.8%) amid the central bank’s aggressive tightening cycle, although shelter prices as a whole decelerated in October.11 The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 5.8% in November 2023.12 Canada recorded a trade surplus of CAD 2.97 billion in October 2023, from the downwardly revised CAD 1.12 billion in the previous month.13

Optimism returned to the market with a vengeance in November, as cooling inflation readings raised expectations for future Fed rate cuts, boosting U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 up 9.1% in November. The pullback in Treasury yields provided relief for smaller caps, who tend to be more sensitive to borrowing costs, with the S&P Mid Cap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 up 8.5% and 8.3%, respectively. Canadian equities finished the month on the upside. The S&P/TSX Composite and S&P/TSX 60 rose 7.5% and 7.9%, respectively. The S&P/TSX Composite Diversified Banks was up 8.6%. The S&P Europe 350 soared 6.5% in November and turned positive for Q4. 15 of 16 countries contributed positively to pan-European equity returns this month, with Norway the only exception. Germany and France did the heaviest lifting, contributing 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively, to the S&P Europe 350’s return in November. The S&P Pan Asia BMI rose 7.9%, with every country, factor, and sector contributing positively. Korea led the pack with the S&P Korea BMI posting an 10.7% gain over the month, while China and Hong Kong were among the laggards. Japan’s larger market contributed the most to November’s gains.

In December we maintained the asset allocation from November. We continue to hold gold across all models. Gold is considered a long-term strategic asset alongside bonds as it provides returns in a wide range of economic conditions. In 2023, two significant event risks – the SVB failure and the Israel-Hamas conflict – added between 3% and 6% to gold’s performance.14 The diversification and risk reduction advantages of fixed income relative to equities will continue to benefit our portfolio models during stagnation. With a soft landing, bond prices may not appreciate much beyond their 2023 year-end range.

Our approach to portfolio management is nimble, opportunistic, and deliberate in identifying asset classes that are best placed to generate returns in a new world order. Our focus is on protecting portfolios from downside risk, and we believe that our investment process is working to achieve that goal.

Deborah Frame, President and CIO

Drew Millard, Portfolio Manager

1 Trading Economics. China CPI. December 9, 2023.

2 Trading Economics. China Trade. December 7, 2023.

3 Trading Economics. EU GDP. December 7, 2023.

4 Trading Economics. EU CPI. December 19, 2023.

5 Trading Economics. EU Unemployment. November 30, 2023.

6 Trading Economics. U.S. GDP. November 29, 2023.

7 Trading Economics. U.S. CPI. December 12, 2023.

8 Trading Economics. U.S. Unemployment. December 8, 2023.

9 Trading Economics. U.S. Trade. December 6, 2023.

10 Trading Economics. Canada GDP. November 30, 2023.

11 Trading Economics. Canada CPI. December 19, 2023.

12 Trading Economics. Canada Unemployment. December 1, 2023.

13 Trading Economics. Canada Trade. December 6, 2023.

14 World Gold Council. Gold Outlook 2024. December 2023.

Index return data from Bloomberg and S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Dashboard: U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Fixed Income. November 30, 2023. Index performance is based on total returns and expressed in the local currency of the index.