Reading Time: 2 Minutes
What’s up everyone!
Found this little beauty off the inter-webs, a good visual summary of where global markets ended for 2018… as you can see, unless you were invested in Qatar (standout), Peru or Russia, you would have been better to stash your cash under the mattress.
Oh, and same goes for the defensive sectors of Healthcare and Utilities!

Just goes to show that investing can be painful – the stock market doesn’t always go up!
Interesting to note the performance compared with 2017, which was a phenomenal year to be invested.
So what’s ahead for 2019 then?
If I had a dollar every time someone asked me that…
Honestly though, my personal opinion is there are more headwinds than tailwinds in the coming year, even if China and the US are making progress on trade talks at the moment.
Here, just have a look at all the market events coming up:

Which makes me highly doubt we’ll see a repeat of 2017’s heady gains in 2019.
Might not be as dramatic as 2018’s falls, given many events are priced in – but expect a year of volatility and uncertainty.
And for those of us wondering what to do in a down market – have a read of this series I prepared earlier! (Part 1 here).
Oh before you go, remember that even if you are caught in a downturn – in the long run, you should do alright:

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70 Comments
Amber
How interesting. I admit, I don’t know much about this, so this was a fun read for me.
The Frugal Samurai
Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it!
Patricia-Ann Que
what a great report is this! good predictions for sure!
The Frugal Samurai
Thank you, glad you liked it!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
Thank you for sharing this information – the chart is very interesting. I recently started paying more attention to the share market to assist my family. It is certainly a complicated and every changing thing!
The Frugal Samurai
Yes, it is extremely complicated, but kudos to you for taking the first steps! Keep going!
Vox
Well, investing isn’t compared to gambling for nothing; after all, there is a high risk that those that indulge might lose. Thanks for doing the analysis, so that folks like us don’t have to. 😀
The Frugal Samurai
You’re very welcome, and you’re right – the difference between gambling and investing is a very thin line right!
crisshex88
I would never have said that Qatar was at the top of the rankings! O_O
The Frugal Samurai
I know right! So unexpected… wonder what it will be like in 2019? Thanks for reading!
Terri Ramsey Beavers
I’m going to have to save this chart and look over all of this info more. I’ve recently started investing and I’m still a bit clueless.
The Frugal Samurai
Please do! It’s pretty full on but great little resource I think!
Tara Pittman (@momknowsbest15)
The stock market is too complicated for me. I do invest in CDS andI hope the rates go up by November when mine come to term.
The Frugal Samurai
Hopeful for you! Especially as the fed just whacked up rates, thanks for reading!
Corinne ❄️ (@WhatCorinneDid)
Such interesting information. I used to work in finance so this is defo my jam!
The Frugal Samurai
Awesome Sauce! So you can relate WOOP WOOP! A fellow Financier… virtual high five!
Jessica Lyles, LMSW
Great information! I wouldn’t have thought Qatar would be at top!?!
The Frugal Samurai
I know right! Go those good things, GO! Thanks for reading.
Candace
Really interesting. This is not my area of expertise but I do enjoy reading about this. Thank you for sharing.
XO
Candace
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
The Frugal Samurai
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading, I’ll be sure to check your site out too 🙂
TheSuperMomLife
I really don’t know a lot about this topic, but I’m sure someone out there will find it useful!
The Frugal Samurai
Awww that’s a shame! Education is the first step yknow! Come back for more and we can learn together, thanks for reading!
Dalene Ekirapa
The stock markets can really fluctuate and it’s so unforaunte when your investments go to fall because of that fall.
The Frugal Samurai
Yahuh, totally agree – volatility is something which we all must be ready for!
laura dove
Wow this is really informative. I havent heard very much abut this topic at all but this is so thorough!
The Frugal Samurai
Thank you, thank you I aim to please 🙂
playinspiredmum
How interesting. I usually find the subject overwhelming however you explain it well even for he simple minds like me! Thank you!
The Frugal Samurai
No problem, and I’m sure we aren’t as simple as we think! Thanks for reading 🙂
GladysNava
Wow! What a great article to read and this is awesome! Thank you for sharing this knowledge to us!
The Frugal Samurai
No problem, thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it.
With Love Moni
I don’t know much about this, This is really good and informative.
The Frugal Samurai
No problem – that’s what I was hoping for!
Cris
That’s very interesting, particularly the risk radar. Nice visual there. I posted an article on FB a week or so ago explaining why the housing market isn’t “crashing” or even about to as many talking heads keep alluding to. A friend fired back that maybe that was true in housing but serious investors are spooked and feel a crash is coming due to the volatility we’ve seen in 2018. I had to disagree. It’s been volatile but certainly not the most volatile the market has ever been. It’ll be interesting to see what 2019 holds.
The Frugal Samurai
Yeah I agree! Although we all have to remember that everything is cyclical – volatility is just part and parcel of the game really, you can’t all have everything going up or down in one direction… and in the long term, demand vs supply suggests that housing “should” be trending up! Thanks for reading.
Kristen Frolich
I hate to say it but I don’t know the first thing about the stock market! It seems like lately it is very erratic so it’s hard to keep track of. It seems like from your post there is definitely a science behind it.
The Frugal Samurai
Yes it can be very erratic for sure, as for whether there is a science… as my friend Light Beam always says “it’s more luck than anything”!
toastycritic
I didn’t realize that the markets as a whole did so poorly in the last year. And very curious that the health sectors still had a tick up despite the overall downturn.
The Frugal Samurai
Yeah, I wasn’t aware of it as well to be honest – that table summed it up nicely eh? I think health will always do well, seeing as it is such a defensive sector – people will always get sick right?
Themamicam
What happened with Chile? 2017 was great but 2018?? My family is from Chile, they actually live there right now, what do you think about what happened?
The Frugal Samurai
Ummm not sure actually… I think Chile and the rest of South America, just got caught up with the global downturn like everywhere else. Surely in the long term it’ll come good right?
DrKLeeBanks
I confess, I don’t really understand any of this. However, it looks helpful for those who follow such statistics. And I’m guessing the fact the graph trends upward is a good thing?
The Frugal Samurai
Awww don’t worry! We can learn together 🙂 ummm the graph trending up means that generally in the long-run, the market i.e. your investment “should” always go up!
Rose A (@mail4rosey)
There sure is a lot going on right now. Some we aren’t sure how will play out here, so we’re being very careful how we spend and invest.
The Frugal Samurai
Nice nice, being cautious in this investing environment is the smart thing to do I think – you can’t make returns as easily as you can before! Thanks for reading.
Bindu Thomas
I am not much aware of it. But its very interesting. Great report!
The Frugal Samurai
Thank you, I agree – not many people are aware of these things!
blair villanueva
Wow I always got headaches analyzing numbers, however it is interesting to know these figures. Really helps to where and when to invest.
The Frugal Samurai
I agree, numbers do my head in as well! But you can’t get anywhere without them 🙁 Thanks for sharing!
playinspiredmum
It’s sounds like 2019 should be an interesting year. Bring it on!
The Frugal Samurai
I know – can’t wait!
Becca Wilson
I normally don’t follow things like this but it was so very interesting. I loved to see the comparison of where things were and where they are now.
The Frugal Samurai
Thank you for saying so! I too enjoy comparisons, think it’s much easier to grasp! Thanks for reading.
georginawangui
Thank you for the breakdown, and I really hope that some of these markets can bounce back this year. 2018 was indeed not a very good year for the stock market
The Frugal Samurai
No it certainly was not, I too am hopeful that it can DO SOMETHING GOOD, cos boy – don’t we need it aye! Thanks for reading 🙂
Tadpoles And Mud Puddles
Your article is interesting. It honestly makes my fear of the stock market more intense. My brother is in finance and has made decent money in it but it feels too much like gambling to me. It’s hard to know what to do with so much dropping.
The Frugal Samurai
Oh no! It wasn’t supposed to be like that – yeah it can be very speculative, but education is so often the very first step! Come back and learn more about personal finance haha! Thanks for reading 🙂
Louise x (@withlovefromlou)
I’m actually quite surprised at this report. I would never have thought that Qatar would have come out on top! It just goes to show how erratic the stock market is!!
Louise x
The Frugal Samurai
I reckon aye, Qatar of all places! Surprised you and me both it looks like, thanks for reading – wonder what’s ahead for 2019?
Okorie Gideon Akachukwu
Really interesting read… Learn some few things that would really be of help someday
The Frugal Samurai
No problem, glad to be of service! Thanks for reading.
Anosa - MyrabevLife
I have little knowledge about this things but I would love to learn. I hope this year I could finally be able to understand more about this. Things do fluctuate a lot and super fast.
The Frugal Samurai
I hope you can learn as well, thanks for taking that initial step on the education journey! You can do it!
Kareen Liez Datoy
I’m not really into stock markets but I would love to invest this year and look into it. Thanks for sharing!
The Frugal Samurai
No problem – good luck with it this year and hoping you can take that jump into the markets!
Peachy A.
I don’t know much about the stock market. This was such an interesting read!
The Frugal Samurai
No problem, hope you got something from it – thanks for reading!
Mommy Sigrid
Wow! Interesting facts. I stopped investing in stocks because I don’t have the stomach for it. Since I have long term goals, money is in mutual funds.
The Frugal Samurai
That’s fair enough, mutual funds are pretty good also, as long as you believe and trust the fund manager than power to you!
Stephanie | Adventures in Aussieland
I have to admit, I know absolutely nothing about this topic. Which is a shame because my dad used to work in the field.
The Frugal Samurai
Damn, that’s a shame! But who better than to learn from than your own Dad – hopefully you can tap into that free resource soon! Thanks for reading!