Global equity markets made a V-shaped rebound, rallying throughout the first quarter as all asset classes earned positive first quarter returns (see quarterly market review).

After logging strong returns in 2017, global equity markets delivered negative returns in US dollar terms in 2018.

The first half of 2018 has given us plenty of praiseworthy economic news. Consider the labor market: Unemployment has shrunk to a low we have not seen since a brief period in 2000.

As 2018 dawned, it seemed we might settle in for another year of records in the equities markets.