Even in the worst of times for financial markets, there’s usually a few ways to profit. Well, not this year.
In fact, in 2018, just about every single asset class one can invest in — from stocks around the globe to government debt to corporate bonds to commodities — have posted negative returns or unchanged performance year to date.
Even during the financial crisis in 2008, government bonds and gold worked. And in 2015, when a majority of asset classes finished in the red, at least stocks and Treasurys squeaked out positive returns. After Thursday’s rout, the S&P 500 looks like it is ending the year on the lows, down 7.7 percent and counting for 2018.
