MARKET REVIEW In 2Q23, the S&P 500 returned 8.74%, the S&P MidCap 400 returned 4.85%, and the Russell 2000 returned 5.21%. On May 3, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps to 5.00% – 5.25% and then paused in June. Fed consensus calls for two more rate hikes in 2023.1 MACRO OBSERVATIONS Economic […]

MARKET REVIEW In 1Q23, the Russell 2000 returned 2.74% and the S&P 500 returned 7.50%. Despite the worry, the markets have been positive over the last nine months. As anticipated, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps to 4.50% – 4.75% on February 1. General consensus of the Fed predicts another 25 bps […]

MARKET REVIEW Despite the market’s terrible angst and performance in 2022, the major indices were all higher in the second half of 2022. In Q4, the S&P 500 returned 7.56% and the Russell 2000 Growth returned 4.13%. As anticipated, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 bps to 3.75 – 4.00% on November 2nd […]

MARKET REVIEW In 3Q22, the S&P 500 returned -4.88%, the S&P 400 Index returned –2.46%, and the Russell 2000 Index returned –2.19%. In July, when investors believed the Federal Reserve might end its rate-raising cycle, the Russell 2000 returned 10.50% and the S&P 500 returned 9.22%. In late July, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates […]

MARKET REVIEW In 1Q22, the S&P 500 returned -4.60% and the S&P 400 returned -4.88%. The market was particularly weak in January as inflation hit a 39-year high and U.S. Government bond yields increased. MACRO OBSERVATIONS In 1Q22, Russia assaulted Ukraine. The brutality was shocking. It laid bare our assumptions about geopolitical stability and international […]

MARKET REVIEW The market closed 2021 near its 12-month and all-time highs. In 4Q21, the S&P 500 returned 11.03% and theS&P 400 MidCap returned 8.00%.  In 2021, the S&P 500 returned 28.71%; the S&P 400 MidCap returned 24.76%. While 2021 was a great year, the start of 2022 is anything but great.  Inflation is lasting […]

MARKET REVIEW In 3Q21, the Russell 2000 returned -4.36%, and the S&P 500 returned 0.58%. The market was particularly weak in late September, after the Federal Open Market Committee Statement. YTD as of September 30, 2021, the Russell 2000 returned 12.41%, and the S&P 500 returned 15.92%. MACRO OBSERVATIONS 10-year U.S. Treasury rates rose 35 […]

July 2021 Dear Shareholders, Friends of Needham, and Prospective Shareholders, We are pleased to report Needham Funds’ results for the half-year ended June 30, 2021.  Our mission is to create wealth for long-term investors and the first half of 2021 was another step forward.  Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate, and when redeemed, shares […]

MARKET REVIEW In 2Q21, the S&P 500 returned 8.55% and the S&P MidCap 400 returned 3.64%. MACRO OBSERVATIONS 10-year U.S. Treasury rates fell from 1.75% to 1.5% after a one-year increase from near 1.0%.  The decrease helped equities in the second quarter. Inflation – Oil rose 18.1% and a basket of other commodities increased 9.4% […]

MARKET REVIEW In 1Q21, the S&P 500 returned 6.17%.  There was a significant rotation out of growth into value late in the quarter – the S&P 500 Value Index returned 10.58% in Q1 while the S&P 500 Growth Index finished up 2.06%. Source: Zephyr Informais MACRO OBSERVATIONS We believe accommodative policies have long provided tailwind […]