Blog

By: Mary Fjelstad, Senior Research Analyst

Last week, Britain triggered Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, formally beginning the country’s exit from the European Union. As far as UK stock markets as measured by FTSE’s UK indexes are concerned, however, the process began some time ago as investors tried to foresee what this momentous event might mean for the UK economy.

Dividend-oriented US small cap stocks as reflected by the Russell 2000 Dividend Growth Index have risen in two of the last three periods of extended US interest rate increases by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

By: Mary Fjelstad, Senior Research Analyst

As Emma Walmsley takes over the helm of GlaxoSmithKline, the percentage of FTSE 100 companies led by women rises to a mere 7%. This seems an appropriate moment to report on the United Kingdom’s progress on women’s representation in top corporate roles.

After rising 14.2% in the period after the US presidential election through year-end, US small cap stocks as reflected by the Russell 2000 Index have come back to earth in 2017, with just a 1% rise year-to-date and a 1.3% decline in March as of March 28.

By: Catherine Yoshimoto, Senior Index Product Manager

Real estate investments can offer a relatively predictable income stream derived from rents that are also frequently inflation-linked, which can translate to long-term real returns. For real estate investors setting their sights solely on real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the Asia ex Japan region, a single security can comprise a significant portion of a traditional market cap weighted index. The FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Asia ex Japan REITs 10% Capped Index addresses this issue in its methodology, resulting in a more balanced, diversified index.

The November 8 US presidential election ignited a sharp increase in US small cap stock market performance and volatility.

By: Catherine Yoshimoto, Senior Index Product Manager

"Follow the yellow brick road” is perhaps the most famous advice ever uttered in movie history. But whether or not you imagine that the 2016 presidential election equates to the cyclone in The Wizard of Oz, President Trump has vowed to invest more in America’s basic infrastructure including roads. Even before the November election, interest in infrastructure was gaining ground. For market participants looking to track this segment, FTSE Russell offers an index series with a focus on infrastructure and infrastructure-related companies.

US small cap stocks have lost steam in 2017 after a sharp increase to close out 2016 following the US presidential election, as reflected by the US small cap Russell 2000 Index.

By: Mat Lystra, Senior Research Analyst

With a year’s worth of data since the outset of this latest rate-rising cycle, we take a look at how things have played out this time around in comparison to earlier cycles. It turns out that history yet again repeated itself. Index returns in each of the last four cycles have been negative after one month, but in the most recent three cycles, index returns were up by double-digits after one year.

New research from global index provider FTSE Russell reveals that the US equity market rally since election day, commonly referred to as the “Trump Bump,” reflected a change in market leadership to coincide with the country’s change in leadership.