By the end of 2008, broad equity prices had fallen close to 50%.
Most American investors opt for broad equity or government-bond portfolios.
The euro hit a two-and-a-half-month high, above $1.38, helped by the solid global manufacturing data, as easing concerns about the euro zone's public debt also helped the broad equity rally.
The Morgan Stanley REIT Index, which measures total return including dividends, has outgunned the broad equity markets over the past one, three and five-year periods.
Right now, advisers like Jim Lowell, chief investment strategist of Adviser Investment Management in Newton, Mass., recommend funds that give broad equity exposure, like Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX) or the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Index ETF (IYY).
With that in mind, while we expect tepid real returns (after-inflation) for the broad equity market over the next few years, we believe that the opportunity for innovative smaller companies may be above-average.
This is good news for large U.S. multinational companies, which have significantly underperformed the broad equity benchmarks in recent years but seem well positioned for relative outperformance in an environment of slowing U.S. economic growth yet still-healthy global consumer demand.
Energy and materials stocks led the losses in the broader equities market, falling 4 percent and 3.3 percent.
Energy stocks led the declines on the broader equities market, falling 1.88 percent, after reports that Saudi Arabia would increase oil production.
Barrick Gold Corp. : The Canadian gold producer bucked the downward trend experienced by the broader equities market Tuesday by climbing approximately 0.5% to $34.82.
Morgan has a broader equity business, but is not strong in technology.
