Global central bank policies left investors starving for yields in 2015 and 2016 and looking for returns in some unorthodox places in an attempt to garner more than just tiny single digit returns. Then voters cast their ballots in favor of change, both in the U.S. with the election of Donald Trump and in the U.K. with the Brexit vote. Despite the votes for change, 2017 could be another year of measly single-digit returns, however, as it will take the world’s central banks some time to change their policies.
More single-digit returns in 2017?
Michael Cembalest of JPMorgan said in his “Eye on the Market Outlook 2017” that diversified investment portfolio proxies returned only 1% to 3% in 2015. Although this improved to between 6% and 7% in 2016, he doesn’t expect a break into the double digits this year.