Equity Returns Post Brexit

July 08, 2016 | Matt Anderson, CFA, Assistant Vice President, Client Service

The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union on June 23rd was an unprecedented event that impacted markets around the world. While this exit won’t actually take place for another two years, equities sold off in a knee-jerk fashion as investors feared the ramifications on the global economy. Due to the heavy exposure to Europe, non-U.S. developed markets suffered the most, losing nearly 10% before rebounding.

With the U.S. viewed as a safe haven, domestic equities have fared relatively well in the Brexit aftermath. The U.S. dollar appreciated following the decision while the British pound slumped to a 30 year low against the greenback. Emerging market (EM) currencies have also depreciated against the dollar however EM equities have been one of the stronger performers. This asset class has benefitted from the U.S. Federal Reserve indicating it will not make any significant interest rate movements due to the risk the Brexit poses to the economy. Only a few days after the UK vote, EM equities rallied for its biggest weekly gain since March. While the Brexit will undoubtedly have long-term ramifications, many of which are currently unclear, equity markets have rebounded from the initial sell-off.