Review of 2011 Performance

The bull market that began with recovery from the Great Recession charged into 2011, lifting markets and indexes to multi-year highs. The S&P 500 Index and the Top Eight Model Portfolio topped out at the end of April near their highs reached in October, 2007, in the final days of the bull market that preceded the Great Recession. The Nasdaq Composite Index surpassed its October, 2007, high in April, but it has a long, long way to go to reach its all-time high from March, 2000.

A multitude of international and domestic woes caused a five-month pullback that took a lot of steam out of the bull market and pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Indexes as well as the Top Eight Model Portfolio into the red for 2011.

Improving economic data for the U.S. trumped further Euro zone problems over the last three months of 2011 and gave the bull market some renewed life. The S&P 500 Index scraped out a small gain for 2011. The Nasdaq Composite Index and the Top Eight Model Portfolio were slightly negative for the year.

Posted 1/10/12 10:40am ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Health Care Overweighting

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio significantly increased its exposure to the health care sector over the last three months. We purchased Medical Delivery (FSHCX) in April, Health Care (FSPHX), Pharmaceuticals (FPHAX), and Biotechnology (FBIOX) in May, and Medical Equipment & Systems (FSMEX) in June. Fundranker now holds all five of Fidelity’s health care Select funds, and they account for over half of our Top Eight Model Portfolio.

While all 39 of Fidelity’s Select funds have lost ground in June, only three of three of them performed better than all five of our health care funds in month-to-date returns through June 21. Also through June 21, our five health care funds led 31 of the other Select funds in quarter-to-date returns and all of the other Select funds in 2011 year-to-date returns. It is easy to see why they have moved up into Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio.

So how will this overweighting play out in coming months? As of June 21, all five health care funds remain in the Top Eight and have a good chance of carrying through to July. While our politicians argue endlessly over how and even whether the Affordable Care Act, passed and signed into law over a year ago, should be implemented, it seems that the market is placing a vote of confidence in the outcome. We look for these funds to perform well for Fundranker.

Posted 6/21/11 10:10pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Six-Month Winning Streak

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio extended its most recent multi-month gain to six months—September, 2010, through February, 2011; unfortunately, it stopped there with a small loss for the month of March. During that six-month period, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio gained 35.516%, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index Fund - Investor Class) gained only 32.150% and 27.662%, respectively.

See our Five-Month Winning Streak post for a table that shows all of Fundranker’s multi-month gains and compares them to returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index and the S&P 500 Index.

With this six-month upturn under its belt, a slight loss in March, and another gain in April, Fundranker rose 20 months during the 26-month bull market that started in March, 2009. Perhaps Fundranker will extend its bull market run with a gain in May and mark a new multi-month upturn, April to May, as well.

Over all of its 23 historical multi-month upturns, Fundranker gained an average of 22.169%; the S&P 500 Index gained only 12.461% on average. Over Fundranker’s 14 historical multi-month upturns during which we tracked the Nasdaq Composite Index, Fundranker gained an average of 18.108%; the Nasdaq Composite Index gained only 14.881% on average.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, it’s still great to know that Fundranker regularly outperforms the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 Indexes.

Posted 4/29/11 12:24pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

April Bull Market Highs

As of April 26, both the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index Fund - Investor Class) hit new bull market highs. The bull market that began in March, 2009, is now nearly 26 months old.

As of April 26, the Nasdaq Composite Index is up 127.648% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low, and it is up 2.219% from the high it reached on October 31, 2007, at the end of the preceding bull market.

As of April 26, the S&P 500 Index is up 107.581% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low, but it still is down 7.178% from the all-time high it reached on October 9, 2007, at the end of the preceding bull market.

As of April 26, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio is up 98.543% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low, but it still is down 11.712% from the all-time high it reached on June 23, 2008, a few months into the preceding bear market.

Posted 4/27/11 1:50pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Market Volatility Surges

With continuing unrest in the Middle East, the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and Japan’s continuing nuclear disaster, world stock markets have been particularly volatile from late February and through mid-April.

Through March 16, when markets hit lows for the current downturn, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index Fund - Investor Class) was down 6.258% from its February 18 bull market high, the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) was down 7.627% from its February 18 bull market high, and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio was down 8.720% from its February 17 bull market high.

During the last half of March, however, the stock market broke to the upside, regaining most of the above losses. As of March 31, the S&P 500 Index, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio were down only 1.071%, 1.807%, and 2.222%, respectively, from their mid-February bull market highs.

In April, the market turned down again, especially today, April 18, with the S&P 500 down over 1.5% midday on new worries that include today’s downgrade of the United States’ credit outlook by Standard & Poors and increasing concerns that Greece will have to renegotiate terms of its public debt.

Posted 4/20/11 1:09pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Facebook Page

We have implemented a Fundranker Facebook Page, and we will be posting our blog entries there on the Notes Tab as well as on our Fundranker blog.

Posted 3/21/11 1:38pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Five-Month Winning Streak

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio extended its latest multi-month gain to five months—September, 2010, through January, 2011. The table below shows all of Fundranker’s multi-month gains and compares them to returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) over the same time periods. Since we didn’t start tracking the Nasdaq Composite Index until October, 2003, its returns are shown starting in 2004:

With its current five-month upturn, Fundranker rose 18 months during the 23-month bull market that started in March, 2009. Fundranker was up again through February 7; perhaps it will extend its bull market run and this latest multi-month upturn still another month.

Over all the upturns, Fundranker gained an average of 21.946%; the S&P 500 Index gained only 12.279% on average. Over the 14 upturns during which we tracked the Nasdaq Composite Index, Fundranker gained an average of 17.742%; the Nasdaq Composite gained only 14.593% on average. See our Fundranker Upturns December 2010 Update post for earlier information.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, it’s still great to know that Fundranker regularly outperforms the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 Indexes.

Posted 2/7/11 8:50pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bull Market: 22 Months and Counting

The bull market that started in March, 2009, is alive and well through December, 2010, and into January, 2011. From March 9, 2009, through January 7, 2011, the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) gained 115.853%, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) gained 94.974%, and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio gained 83.297%:

To put these phenomenal gains in some perspective, as of January 7, the Nasdaq Composite Index was 3.077% below the 2007 bull market high it reached on October 31, 2007, the S&P 500 Index was 12.816% below the all-time high it reached on October 9, 2007, and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio was 18.492% below the all-time high it reached on June 23, 2008.

Posted 1/8/11 1:15pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Snaps Back

During May and June, 2010, for the first time in the current, 22-month bull market, Fundranker added another multiple-month downturn, and it was pretty severe. In the six months since then, Fundranker snapped back, reaching new bull market highs in both December and January.

Through June, 2008, the Fundranker system bucked the bear market that started in November, 2007, but in the frantic market downturn that occurred during the last half of 2008 and January and February of 2009, it gave back those gains and then some. Fundranker has had multiple-month downturns only 16 times since 1997, when historical tracking of the Top Eight Model Portfolio began, and it has had only one multiple-month downturn during the current bull market. Here are Fundranker’s losses during those downturns along with its returns during the next three months, six months, and 12 months:

The five-month downturn that began in July, 2008, was the first multiple-month downturn Fundranker had had for two years, and it is by far the worst and longest that Fundranker has suffered. As the Great Recession, the worst recession since the Great Depression, continued, Fundranker added another two-month downturn in January and February, 2009. As it did after many past multiple-month downturns, however, Fundranker was able to garner impressive returns over the following periods.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, you still can benefit from knowing that Fundranker almost always has gone on to better performance in the months that follow a multiple-month downturn. Let this knowledge boost your confidence in Fundranker. Stay disciplined, and stick with the Fundranker system.

Posted 1/6/11 4:51pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Upturns December 2010 Update

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio added another month to its latest multi-month gain, now September through November, 2010. The table below shows Fundranker’s multi-month gains and compares them to returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) over the same time periods. Since we didn’t start tracking the Nasdaq Composite Index until October, 2003, its returns are shown starting in 2004:

With its current three-month upturn, Fundranker has risen 16 months during the 21-month-long bull market that started in March, 2009. Fundranker is up again through December 17; perhaps it will extend its bull market run and this latest multi-month upturn still another month.

Over all the upturns, Fundranker now has an average gain of 21.451%; the S&P 500 Index gained only 11.826% on average. Over the 14 upturns during which we tracked the Nasdaq Composite Index, Fundranker now has an average gain of 16.929%; the Nasdaq Composite gained only 13.907% on average. See our Fundranker Upturns November 2010 Update post for earlier information.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, it’s still great to know that Fundranker regularly outperforms the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 Indexes.

Posted 12/18/10 8:38pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (2)

Fundranker Surpasses Nasdaq YTD

Four trading days into December, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio surpassed the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) for 2010 YTD gains. As of December 6, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio gained 15.303% YTD compared to the Nasdaq’s 15.231% YTD gain. Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio last consistently led the Nasdaq Composite Index for 2010 YTD gains between mid-March and late June.

Posted 12/07/10 12:06pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Hits Bull Market High

Three trading days into December, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio did what it has been unable to do since April 23: set another bull market high. As of December 3, it was up 0.769% from April 23, 4.236% in December, 15.054% 2010 YTD, and 80.857% for the bull market from its March 9, 2009, low.

Posted 12/04/10 1:44pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Strong December Start

The market surged over the first two trading days of December, sending the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) up 3.268% to another bull market high.

The two-day surge sent the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) up 3.481%, but the index remained down a fraction of a percent from its November 5 bull market high.

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio gained 3.391% over the first two trading days, putting it just a tiny fraction of a percent below its April 23 bull market high. The Top Eight Model Portfolio was not able to top its April 23 bull market high in November, but December’s strong two-day start put it ever so close.

Posted 12/02/10 11:59pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Bull Market Highs

After the last few dismal days for the market, it seems like a good time to review the market surge in early November. At its November 8 bull market high, the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) was up 2.472% in November, 14.433% YTD, and 105.748% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low.

At its November 5 bull market high, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) was up 1.785% in November, 11.369% YTD, and 87.237% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low.

As of its November high on November 8 (not quite a new bull market high), Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio was up 4.390% in November, 11.575% YTD, and 77.334% from its March 9, 2009, bear market low.

To put these amazing returns in some perspective, note that, as of their November highs, the Nasdaq Composite Index was down only 7.615% from its previous bull market high reached on October 31, 2007, the S&P 500 Index was still down 15.461% from its previous bull market high, also reached on October 31, 2007, and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio was still down 18.634% from October 31, 2007, and 21.143% from the all time high it reached on June 23, 2008, part way into the bear market caused by the Great Recession.

Posted 11/18/10 10:06am ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Upturns November 2010 Update

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio added another multi-month gain in September and October, 2010. The table below shows Fundranker’s multi-month gains and compares them to returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) over the same time periods. Since we didn’t start tracking the Nasdaq Composite Index until October, 2003, its returns are shown starting in 2004:

With its current two-month upturn, Fundranker has risen 15 months during the 20-month-long bull market that started in March, 2009. Fundranker is up again through November 8; perhaps it will extend its bull market run and this latest multi-month upturn still another month.

Over all the upturns, Fundranker now has an average gain of 21.343%; the S&P 500 Index gained only 11.825% on average. Over the 14 upturns during which we tracked the Nasdaq Composite Index, Fundranker now has an average gain of 16.751%; the Nasdaq Composite gained only 13.925% on average. See our Fundranker Upturns May 2010 Update post for earlier information.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, it’s still great to know that Fundranker regularly outperforms the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 Indexes.

Posted 11/9/10 11:18am ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

September Record

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio had its best September gain this year since its inception in January, 1997. It gained 10.554%, also hitting the number 10 spot on the Top Eight Model Portfolio’s Ten Best Months list:

As you can see, it’s pretty difficult for a month’s gain to make the Ten Best Months list. Fundranker has had some pretty dramatic one-month gains. At this point, Fundranker would have to gain somewhat over 10%, which would satisfy many investors as a yearly gain, in just one month to add a new top 10 month.

Posted 10/7/10 9:53am ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

September Surge 2010

The stock market turned dramatically higher during the first 13 trading days of September. Through September 20, the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund), Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio, and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) had September gains of 11.514%, 9.520%, and 8.988%, respectively.

Through September 20, both the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite Index moved into the black for 2010 YTD, as well, with YTD gains of 3.797% and 4.357%, respectively, and moved out of correction territory with losses of 5.310% and 6.552%, respectively, since their April 23 bull market highs.

Through September 20, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio also moved into the black for 2010 YTD with a gain of 1.573%, but it remained slightly into correction territory with a loss of 11.039% since its April 23 bull market high.

Posted 9/21/10 9:35am ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Topsy-Turvy August

The S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) spent the first seven trading days of August in the black for August, in the black for 2010 YTD, and out of correction territory, that is, less than 10% down from their April 23 bull market highs.

Since then, through August 18, the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index both fell back into negative territory for August and for 2010 YTD. The S&P 500 Index moved back in and back out of correction territory, while the Nasdaq Composite Index moved back into correction territory and stayed there.

During the first seven trading days of August, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio also rose into positive territory for both August and 2010 YTD, but it never quite emerged from correction territory. Since then, through August 18, it fell back into the red for August and 2010 YTD, along with the indexes, and further into correction territory.

Mid-day on Thursday, August 19, as this entry was posted, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Indexes were down about 2%, reversing three positive days that began the week.

Posted 8/19/10 12:44pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bullish July

After the market hit 2010 lows in early July, the fragile bull market began to assert itself. As of July 23, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) emerged from correction territory, down 8.9% from its bull market high reached in April. The Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio, down 10.1% and 13.3%, respectively, from their bull market highs reached in April, don’t lack much to emerge from correction territory, as well.

Earnings season generally has been positive for the market so far in July, and more good results are expected from bellweathers such as Boeing, Chevron, and DuPont in the last week of July. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book of economic conditions, new home sales, the Case-Schiller home price index, consumer confidence for July, durable goods orders, weekly initial jobless claims, and second-quarter GDP are all on tap to be reported during the last week of July, as well. Perhaps they will further relieve worries about a double dip recession, and the market will break definitively out of its summer doldrums.

Posted 7/24/10 6:59pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker Multi-Month Downturns

Through June, 2008, the Fundranker system bucked the bear market that started in November, 2007, but in the frantic market downturn that occurred during the last half of 2008 and January and February of 2009, it gave back those gains and then some. Fundranker has had multiple-month downturns only 16 times since 1997, when historical tracking of the Top Eight Model Portfolio began, and it has had only one multiple-month downturn during the current bull market. Here are Fundranker’s losses during those downturns along with its returns during the next three months, six months, and 12 months:

The five-month downturn that began in July, 2008, was the first multiple-month downturn Fundranker had had for two years, and it is by far the worst and longest that Fundranker has suffered. As the Great Recession, the worst recession since the Great Depression, continued, Fundranker added another two-month downturn in January and February, 2009. As it did after many past multiple-month downturns, however, Fundranker was able to garner impressive returns over the following periods.

During May and June, 2010, for the first time in the current, 16-month bull market, Fundranker added another multiple-month downturn, but it bounced back significantly in the week that ended July 9.

Although past results are never an assurance of future performance, you still can benefit from knowing that Fundranker almost always has gone on to better performance in the months that follow a multiple-month downturn. Let this knowledge boost your confidence in Fundranker. Stay disciplined, and stick with the Fundranker system.

Posted 7/11/10 6:20pm ET in Fundranker | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bull vs. Bear

Through June 29, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund), the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund), and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio fell 14.1%, 15.5%, and 17.7%, respectively, from bull market highs they reached on April 23. That put them way into correction territory, generally defined as a 10% decline from bull market highs, and much closer to bear market territory, generally defined as a 20% decline from bull market highs, than any of us would like.

Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist and NY Times columnist, wrote recently that he fears we are heading into a third depression, which he says primarily will be a failure of policy. Governments around the world seem overly concerned with inflation, when he says the real problem is deflation, and they are preaching the need for austerity when the real problem is inadequate spending to make sure we emerge completely from the Great Recession.

So what does our current situation mean for our economy and markets? Will the bull market that started in March, 2009, with the beginning of recovery from the Great Recession be able to overcome this correction, or will it turn into a bear market? Will private business be able to take over the spending necessary to keep the world economy expanding when governments begin curtailing their stimulus spending?

We’re convinced here at Fidelity Select Fundranker that our system of regularly moving into better performing Fidelity Select funds will stand us in good stead however the market reacts to future events. It’s unlikely that we’ll see markets react again like they did when world financial systems nearly collapsed in 2007 and 2008; there almost always will be at least a few sectors that perform well, and Fundranker will find them.

Posted 6/30/10 11:54am ET in Economy, Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fundranker in the Black

Through June 11, 2010, Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio gained 1.1% YTD, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) and the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) remained in negative territory with losses of 0.8% and 1.3% YTD, respectively.

Posted 6/12/10 7:46pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Correction Lingers

The S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund), the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund), and Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio remained in correction as of June 9, with losses of 13.0%, 14.6%, and 15.0%, respectively, from their April 23 bull market highs. In the first seven trading days of June, they lost 3.0%, 4.3%, and 5.4%, respectively, to add to correction woes that began in the last week of April and continued through May.

Contrarians still call for a short-term rally, however, because investor sentiment has turned down so dramatically. Mark Hulbert pointed out in a recent article that, as of June 8, the market was at about the same place it was during the last correction in January and February. At that time, the Hulbert Stock Newsletter Sentiment Index stood at 20.3%, meaning that market-timing newsletters in the Index recommended that their subscribers put 20.3% of their portfolios in stocks, on average. As of June 8, however, the HSNSI stood at negative 8.8%, meaning that newsletters in the Index recommended that their subscribers short the market with 8.8% of their portfolios. That’s quite a change in sentiment.

Contrarians contend that bull markets like to climb a “wall of worry.” This morning, June 10, the market is up over 2%. Perhaps they are right.

Posted 6/10/10 11:49am ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Correction Recovery?

Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) were still in correction as of May 28, with losses of 10.1%, 10.3%, and 10.7%, respectively, but in the six trading days between their May 20 correction lows and the end of May, they managed to gain 3.5%, 1.7%, and 2.4%, respectively, which is a good start in overcoming this recent setback.

The American Association of Individual Investors reported on May 27 that nearly 51% of investors were bearish about the market over the next six months in their latest weekly survey, a rise of 17% from the previous survey. Intuitively, this may seem like bad news for the market, but investor confidence traditionally has been a contrarian indicator, so this drop from dangerously high investor confidence is actually another good indicator for this bull market to continue its run.

Posted 5/29/10 9:45pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Correction Hits Market

With its plunge on May 20, the market finished wiping out its 2010 gains and sent major indexes into correction territory. As of May 20, the S&P 500 Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Spartan 500 Index - Investor Class Fund) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (as measured by Fidelity’s Nasdaq Composite Index Fund) fell 11.8% and 12.8%, respectively, from their recent bull market highs on Apil 23. Fundranker’s Top Eight Model Portfolio fell 13.2% over the same time period.

Much of the volatility in the market during the last week of trading in April and all of May so far can be attributed to investor concern about the European debt crisis and the possibility it could derail world-wide economic recovery from the Great Recession. For an alternate viewpoint, however, check out Tim Duy’s article about how the European debt crisis could be a net positive for the U.S.

Posted 5/21/10 1:02pm ET in Fundranker, Market | Permalink | Comments (0)