ETF Scorecard: January 18 Edition

• A key vote in the British Parliament to approve a Brexit deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May failed to get the necessary support, as largely expected. May lost the vote by a big margin, plunging the U.K. into uncertainty. The European Union ruled out reopening negotiations, but May is holding talks with opposition parties to end the deadlock. Progress is slow, though.

• The G20 conference kicked off in Tokyo with a speech by Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso. The official urged the Group of 20 major economies to renew their cooperation against protectionism.

• U.S. consumer price index fell 0.1% in December month-over-month, the first drop in nine months. Year-over-year, the CPI was up 1.9%, declining from 2.2% in November.

• U.K. inflation grew 2.1% in December compared to the same period last year, hitting a two-year low. Last time the U.K. saw lower inflation was in February 2017, when overall prices were rising due to Brexit.

• European CPI was also on a downtrend. Eurozone inflation rose 1.6% in December compared to the same period last year, below expectations of 1.7%. Final core CPI advanced 1%, in line with expectations but well below European Central Bank’s target.

• U.S. crude oil inventories dipped 2.7 million barrels in the January 11 week, the sixth consecutive week with no growth.

• U.S. unemployment claims came in at 213,000 for the week ended January 12, declining from 216,000 in the prior week.

• Markets rallied again this week.

• Risk assets (SPHB B-) gained 3.08%, as investors continued to buy into the broad-based recovery.

• The broad market (SPY A) was the worst performer, however, advancing 2.61%.

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• Major indexes were all up, with their performance roughly similar.

• Small-cap stocks (IWM B+) were again the best performers for the week, rising 2.65%.

• Europe and Australasia (EFA A) was the only asset that posted gains below 1% for the week.

• Emerging markets (EEM A-) retained its best-performer status for the rolling month, jumping 5.57%.

• The S&P 500 (SPY A) was the worst monthly performer from this pack as well, up just 2.24%.

To see how these indices performed over the past year, check out ETF Scorecard: January 11 Edition

• The financial sector (XLF A) was the best performer both for the week and the rolling month, surging 5.23% and 5.88%, respectively. Financials were already priced for weakness, but a fresh stimulus from China combined with strong results by some U.S. banks improved the sentiment.

• At the other side of the spectrum is utilities (XLU A), which gained 0.53% for the week and dropped 4% for the rolling month.

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• Russia (RSX B+) again posted the best performance for the week, advancing 2.26%.

• Germany (EWG B+) was the only faller from the pack, down 0.34%.

• India (EPI B+) posted the weakest gains for the rolling month, up 0.49%.

• Finally, Brazil (EWZ B+) skyrocketed 14.23% for the rolling month, as investors cheered the economic reforms promised by newly appointed President Jair Bolsonaro.

To find out more about ETFs exposed to particular countries, check our ETF Country Exposure tool. Select a particular country from a world map and get a list of all ETFs tracking your pick.

• Commodities were mixed.

• Amid improving investor sentiment, silver (SLV C+) was the worst performer for the week, down 0.75%. However, silver remains the best performer for the rolling month, up 5.96%, on par with oil (USO A).

• Natural gas (UNG B-), which has been extremely volatile in recent weeks, surged 12.18% for the week. Yet, the commodity remains the worst monthly performer, down 5.26%.

• The British pound (FXB A-) gained 1.69% this week, as investors were pleased to hear that May’s Brexit deal was voted down by Parliament. One of the main scenarios is that the U.K. keeps close ties to the European Union, particularly if the Parliament takes over Brexit negotiations.

• Meanwhile, the European shared currency (FXE A) was the worst weekly performer, dropping 1.82%.

• The Japanese yen (FXY C+) gained 3% for the rolling month, while the U.S. dollar (USO A) was the worst performer with a loss of 1.66%.

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Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.