Quarterly Market Review Q4 2023

Quarterly Market Summary

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

Market segment (index representation) as follows: US Stock Market (Russell 3000 Index), International Developed Stocks (MSCI World ex USA Index [net dividends]), Emerging Markets (MSCI Emerging Markets Index [net dividends]), Global Real Estate (S&P Global REIT Index [net dividends]), US Bond Market (Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index), and Global Bond Market ex US (Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Bond Index [hedged to USD]). S&P data © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved. Bloomberg data provided by Bloomberg.

Long-Term Market Summary

Index Returns as of December 31, 2023

World Stock Market Performance

MSCI All Country World Index with selected headlines from Q4 2023

These headlines are not offered to explain market returns. Instead, they serve as a reminder that investors should view daily events from a long-term perspective and avoid making investment decisions based solely on the news.

Graph Source: MSCI ACWI Index [net dividends]. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Performance does not reflect the expenses associated with management of an actual portfolio. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

World Stock Market Performance

MSCI All Country World Index with selected headlines from past 12 months

US Stocks

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

The US equity market posted positive returns for the quarter and outperformed both non-US developed and emerging markets.
Value underperformed growth within large caps and outperformed within small caps.
Small caps outperformed large caps.
REIT indices outperformed equity market indices.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Market segment (index representation) as follows: Marketwide (Russell 3000 Index), Large Cap (Russell 1000 Index), Large Value (Russell 1000 Value Index), Large Growth (Russell 1000 Growth Index), Small Cap (Russell 2000 Index), Small Value (Russell 2000 Value Index), and Small Growth (Russell 2000 Growth Index). World Market Cap represented by Russell 3000 Index, MSCI World ex USA IMI Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. Russell 3000 Index is used as the proxy for the US market. Dow Jones US Select REIT Index used as proxy for the US REIT market. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved.

International Developed Stocks

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

Developed markets outside of the US posted positive returns for the quarter and underperformed the US market, but outperformed emerging markets.
Value underperformed growth.
Small caps outperformed large caps.

Market segment (index representation) as follows: Large Cap (MSCI World ex USA Index), Small Cap (MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index), Value (MSCI World ex USA Value Index), and Growth (MSCI World ex USA Growth Index). All index returns are net of withholding tax on dividends. World Market Cap represented by Russell 3000 Index, MSCI World ex USA IMI Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. MSCI World ex USA IMI Index is used as the proxy for the International Developed market. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes.

Emerging Markets Stocks

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

Emerging markets posted positive returns for the quarter and underperformed both US and non-US developed markets.
Value outperformed growth.
Small caps outperformed large caps.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Market segment (index representation) as follows: Large Cap (MSCI Emerging Markets Index), Small Cap (MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index), Value (MSCI Emerging Markets Value Index), and Growth (MSCI Emerging Markets Growth Index). All index returns are net of withholding tax on dividends. World Market Cap represented by Russell 3000 Index, MSCI World ex USA IMI Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index used as the proxy for the emerging market portion of the market. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes.

Country Returns

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Country returns are the country component indices of the MSCI All Country World IMI Index for all countries except the United States, where the Russell 3000 Index is used instead. Global is the return of the MSCI All Country World IMI Index. MSCI index returns are net dividend. Indices are not available for direct investment. Their performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. MSCI data © MSCI 2023, all rights reserved.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

US real estate investment trusts outperformed non-US REITs during the quarter.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Number of REIT stocks and total value based on the two indices. All index returns are net of withholding tax on dividends. Total value of REIT stocks represented by Dow Jones US Select REIT Index and the S&P Global ex US REIT Index. Dow Jones US Select REIT Index used as proxy for the US market, and S&P Global ex US REIT Index used as proxy for the World ex US market. Dow Jones and S&P data © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.

Commodities

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

The Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index returned -4.63% for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Natural Gas and Sugar were the worst performers, returning -25.63% and -22.28% during the quarter, respectively. Coffee and Wheat were the best performers, returning +31.46% and +11.26% during the quarter, respectively.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Index is not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Commodities returns represent the return of the Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index. Individual commodities are sub-index values of the Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index. Data provided by Bloomberg.

Fixed Income

Fourth Quarter 2023 Index Returns

Interest rates generally decreased in the US Treasury market for the quarter.
On the short end of the yield curve, the 1-Month US Treasury Bill yield increased 5 basis points (bps) to 5.60%, while the 1-Year US Treasury Bill yield decreased 67 bps to 4.79%. The yield on the 2-Year US Treasury Note decreased 80 bps to 4.23%.
The yield on the 5-Year US Treasury Note decreased 76 bps to 3.84%. The yield on the 10-Year US Treasury Note decreased 71 bps to 3.88%. The yield on the 30-Year US Treasury Bond decreased 70 bps to 4.03%.
In terms of total returns, short-term US treasury bonds returned +3.21% while intermediate-term US treasury bonds returned +3.99%. Short-term corporate bonds returned +4.12% and intermediate-term corporate bonds returned +5.86%.¹
The total returns for short- and intermediate-term municipal bonds were +3.53% and +6.53%, respectively. Within the municipal fixed income market, general obligation bonds returned +7.79% while revenue bonds returned +8.15%.²

1. Bloomberg US Treasury and US Corporate Bond Indices

2. Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index

One basis point (bps) equals 0.01%. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Yield curve data from Federal Reserve. State and local bonds, and the Yield to Worst are from the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. AAA-AA Corporates represent the ICE BofA US Corporates, AA-AAA rated. A-BBB Corporates represent the ICE BofA Corporates, BBB-A rated. Bloomberg data provided by Bloomberg. US long-term bonds, bills, inflation, and fixed income factor data © Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation (SBBI) Yearbook™, Ibbotson Associates, Chicago (annually updated work by Roger G. Ibbotson and Rex A. Sinquefield). FTSE fixed income indices © 2022 FTSE Fixed Income LLC, all rights reserved. ICE BofA index data © 2022 ICE Data Indices, LLC. S&P data © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.

Global Fixed Income

Fourth Quarter 2023 Yield Curves

Interest rates generally decreased across global developed markets for the quarter.
Realized term premiums were generally positive across global developed markets, as longer-term bonds generally outperformed shorter-term bonds.
In Japan, ultrashort-term nominal interest rates were negative. In the UK, Germany, Canada, and Australia, the short-term segment of the yield curve was inverted.

Important Risk Disclosures

The fast price swings in commodities and currencies will result in significant volatility in an investor's holdings.
Currency Risk -because the security invests in stocks denominated in foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates may negatively impact the securities return. The values of the foreign currencies may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation due to changes in interest rates, the TS-8 effects of monetary policies issued by the United States, foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, the imposition of currency controls or other national or global political or economic developments.
International and emerging market investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.
Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) involves special risks such as potential illiquidity and may not be suitable for all investors. There is no assurance that the investment objectives of this program will be attained.
Small Cap stocks may be subject to a higher degree of risk than more established companies' securities. The illiquidity of the Small Cap market may adversely affect the value of these investments.
Value investments can perform differently from the market as a whole. They can remain undervalued by the market for long periods of time.
Municipal bonds are subject to availability, price, and to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rate rise. Interest income may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. Federally tax-free but other state and local taxes may apply.
High yield/junk bonds (grade BB or below) are not investment grade securities, and are subject to higher interest rate, credit, and liquidity risks than those graded BBB and above. They generally should be part of a diversified portfolio for sophisticated investors.
Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.
Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price.
Credit Quality is one of the principal criteria for judging the investment quality of a bond or bond mutual fund. As the term implies, credit quality informs investors of a bond or bond portfolio's credit worthiness, or risk of default.

There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio.

Diversification does not ensure against market risk.

Dimensional Fund Advisors is not affiliated with Private Advisor Group or Guillaume & Freckman, Inc.

This material has been prepared by Dimensional Fund Advisors.

Investment advice offered through Private Advisor Group, a registered investment advisor.