The U.S. stock market is on track to deliver its worst decade of performance on a calendar-basis since the record keeping began on such things, we’re told. Shocking as that is, it’s not the end of the world, although it does reveal a few things about what’s been happening in equities (and the collective mind of investors) over the years.
“Unless there’s a significant rally in 2009, the 2000s will prove to be the worst performing US stock market decade ever, actually losing money for the first time,” writes Ron Surz of PPCA Inc. (an investment analytics/software firm) in a research note today. “It will take a whopping 40% return in 2009 to make investors whole for the decade.”