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Best and Worst Performing Stock Markets in 2012
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Although the American stock markets did well in 2012 (with double digit returns from the S&P 500), it doesn't compare to the huge returns from the hottest stock markets.
Although there is the persistent feeling among investors that the U.S. stock market didn’t do well, it actually did remarkably well in 2012. The Dow was up 5.9%, the S&P 500 up 11.5% and the Nasdaq up 13.6% in 2012.
However, investors shouldn’t have money in just the American markets. There’s plenty of money to be made overseas. Some markets around the world saw far greater gains than in the U.S. (one reported triple digit returns).
“Some obscure markets benefited from some world-class upgrades,” according to Business Insider. Others got juiced by inflation.”
Unfortunately, there’s also plenty to be lost if investments were made in the wrong markets. In particular, Europe probably wasn’t kind to investors.
“A few of these nations have banking sectors that are in terrible shape,” wrote BI. “Some exchanges have suffered due to low liquidity. Others have underperformed as foreign direct investment has plummeted. And an unlucky few have a combination of all of the above.”
Here are the five hottest and five worst stock markets around the world, according to Business Insider.
Best Performances
5. Kenya NSE
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: 39.3%
4. Pakistan KSE
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: 49.3%
3. Egypt EGX
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: 49.6%
2. Turkey XU100
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: 53.3%
1. Venezuela IBC
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: 302.8%
“Venezuela's abysmal inflation rate, which stood at 19.9%, is helping to juice stocks. A massive increase in government spending in the run-up to October's presidential elections spurred consumption.”
Worst Performances
5. Kazakhstan Stock Exchange
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: -12.9%
4. MSCI Bangladesh
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: -15.5%
3. Mongolia MSE
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: -18.8%
2. Ukraine PFTS
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: -41.5%
1. Cyprus CySE General
Returns through Dec. 28, 2012: -60.7%
“The budget situation in Cyprus has gotten so dire that the government has borrowed from public authority pension funds in order to meet other obligations.”
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