New York Life

The resurgence of volatility in late 2018 took many investors by surprise, given all the prevailing signs of a healthy U.S. economy (e.g., strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth, low unemployment, robust corporate earnings). This volatility was driven by growing investor uncertainty—from interest rates and inflation to trade disputes and geopolitical tensions. 2018 was a year of divergence between economies and markets. While most countries saw their economies expand last year, the performance of their respective financial markets was poor.