The manufacturing sector closed 2012 on an upbeat note, according to today’s December report for the ISM Manufacturing Index. This widely followed benchmark rose to 50.7, up from 49.5 in November. A reading above 50 is considered a sign of growth and so the manufacturing sector overall is again leaning towards the forces of light rather than darkness, if only slightly.
Daily Archives: January 2, 2013
Major Asset Classes | December 2012 | Performance Review
The year just passed was kind to investors holding risky assets. The Global Market Index (GMI), a passive benchmark that holds a broad mix of the world’s major asset classes, posted a strong 11.0% total return in 2012. That’s a sharp rebound from 2011’s disappointing 1.1% decline.