2019: Sector winners and losers to date

At the end of this first quarter, we look at the indices and sectors that have performed well over the first quarter as well as the duds.

 

(click here for our look at top and bottom funds, Gold Members only).

 

In table 1 you can see the index winners and losers and there is quite a large spread, as there is in the sector winners and losers in tables 2 & 3.

 

 

The best index is the SSE Composite index, with a very impressive 23.3% return in the first quarter of the year. US indices come third and fourth in the table with less than half the return of the table-topping Chinese index.

 

India and Japan are at the bottom of the table of equity indices, with the Nikkei 225 taking the bottom spot, up 2.9% in the first quarter.

 

China is definitely the standout performer.

 

 

In the sector tables, China is the best performing sector, up 15%. North America follows closely behind with the US-focussed Technology & Telecomms sector sitting second, followed by North American Smaller Companies and the main North America sectors.

 

Two UK sectors make it into the top 10: UK All Companies (up 8.9%) and UK Gilts (up 8.7%).

 

In the bottom table (table 3), bond sectors make up 40% of the sectors ranging from Global Bonds (up 1.7%) to Sterling Corporate Bonds (up 3.9%).  Absolute Return funds have had another poor period, sitting third in the table (up 1.3%). 

 

Higher yielding UK equity funds are the bottom performing sector, with UK Equity Income down 0.2%. The physical bricks-and-mortar property sector is just positive, up 0.1%.  (This is in stark contrast with the Property Other sector, which invests in property shares, up 9.7% in the Top 10 table.)

 

Japan and two mixed investment sectors (0-35% shares and 20-60% shares) make up the remainder of the sectors in the bottom table.

 

These top and bottom tables highlight again that if you did wish to take on risk in the first quarter you really needed a process, beyond luck, to ensure you identified the funds more likely to outperform.

 

 

 

 

Name	Total return %
Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite	23.3
MSCI China	15.0
Russell 2000	11.9
S&P 500	10.9
MSCI Europe Small Cap	9.6
FTSE All World	9.6
FTSE 100	9.5
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan	8.9
Euronext France CAC 40	8.9
FTSE Europe ex UK	8.1
Euro STOXX 50 Sterling	7.8
MSCI Emerging Markets	7.4
FTSE Small Cap (ex IT)	5.1
MSCI India	4.7
MSCI Japan Small Cap	4.7
Deutsche Borse DAX 30 Performance	4.4
Nikkei 225	2.9

 

 

Name	Total return %
China/Greater China	15.0
Technology & Telecommunications	14.0
North American Smaller Companies	13.9
North America	10.7
Global	9.8
Property Other	9.7
UK All Companies	8.9
Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	8.7
UK Gilts	8.7
Global Equity Income	8.5

 

Name	Total return %
UK Equity Income	-0.2
UK Direct Property	0.1
Targeted Absolute Return	1.3
Global Bonds	1.7
Global Emerging Markets Bond	2.8
Sterling Strategic Bond	3.6
Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares	3.7
Sterling Corporate Bond	3.9
Japan	4.6
Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	4.9