Wealth Monitor April 2016 | Page 48

WHAT’S HOT The New Case For Risk Assets After experiencing torrid market conditions during the first couple months of the year, investors eventually moved back into equities and commodities. Will the bullish momentum continue? I nvestors returned to risk assets last month following the February sell-off. While the US dollar weakened, globally developed and emerging equity markets strengthened, including Brazil, one of the hardest hit markets, along with oil, as well as copper. In the short-term, we can expect some weakening, followed by further strength. Commodities come back A weaker dollar looks to have helped commodities last month as the Commodity Research Bureau Index was able to reach a three-month high of $178.68. Further, the rally exceeded the two prior rallies from the past 22 months on a percentage basis. Together, this points to an improving outlook for overall commodities over the coming months. The index had been in a relatively steady decline since its most recent peak in June of 2014, with it falling as much as 50.6% as of the February low. Weakness at this poi