Asset class returns 1999 to 2017
The Asset Class Returns Table depicts annual returns for 9 asset classes, ranked from best to worst performance for each calendar year. The asset classes are color-coded to enable easy tracking over time.
This ultimately conveys the strong case for diversification across asset classes (US stocks, International stocks, bonds, commodities, etc). The Table highlights the uncertainty inherent in all capital markets. Rankings change every year. Also noteworthy is the difference between absolute and relative performance, as returns for the top-performing asset class span a wide range over the past 20 years.
