Lipper Equity Fund Market Insights

Since hitting a market low on March 9, 2009, equity mutual funds have leapt 57.06%. For August almost 94% of all equity and mixed-equity funds posted plus-side returns, with 5 of Lipper's 78 equity classifications being in the red. Tom reports recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

Equity mutual funds posted their best July return in over 40 years, rising 7.95%. For July over 98% of all equity and mixed-equity funds posted plus-side returns, with only 1 of Lipper's 78 equity classifications--Dedicated Short Bias Funds (declining 11.97%) being in the red. Tom reports recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

For the third consecutive month, equity funds posted plus-side returns, rising 7.42% in May. For the three-month period just ended, equity funds posted their strongest quarterly gains in over 40 years. Tom reports recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

For the second consecutive month, equity funds posted plus-side returns, gaining an eye-popping 11.62% in April. Equity funds posted their strongest monthly gains in some 30 years. Tom reports recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

For the second month in a row, equity funds took it on the chin, declining 8.97%. For the month a mere 2% of all equity and mixed-equity funds posted positive returns. Tom reports recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

After a one-month reprieve in December, equity funds were hammered once again in January (losing 7.57% of their value for the month). The DJIA and S and P 500 Index posted their worst January returns on record. Tom reviews recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

Equity funds experienced their sixth consecutive month of declines (losing 8.50% of their value in November), despite the Dow stringing together its strongest five-day percentage gain since 1932 in the last week of the month, rising 1,227 points or 17%. Tom reviews recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

Equity funds were hammered in October,experiencing their worst one-month return since September 1987. Domestic equity funds suffered their worst one-month decline since Lipper began tracking the group in February 1959. Tom reviews recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

Equity funds continued on their downward trek for the third consecutive month as World Equity Funds took it on the chin, dragging down the group average. Domestic equity funds on the other hand posted plus-side returns for the third month in four. Tom reviews recent developments and their impact on equity funds.

Equity funds turned south for the second consecutive month as increasing import costs and crude oil prices continued to weigh on the market. In spite of these factors, slight improvements were seen toward the end of July. Tom reviews recent developments and their impact on equity funds.