“In the past 6 trading days, outperforming the Nasdaq by 10%, why the Russell 2000?”
Recently, the seven giants of the US stock market have encountered turbulence during the earnings season, causing the Nasdaq to oscillate widely at high levels, while the Russell 2000 has risen in response.
With rumors of a rate cut in September in the US, the Nasdaq index has been a bit shaky, and funds have started flowing into small and medium-sized enterprises, causing the Russell 2000 index to rise 10% more than the Nasdaq 100 index in just 6 days.
The seven giants are shaking, while the Russell 2000 is making a comeback.
Recently, the performance period of the seven tech giants in the US stock market has encountered challenges. Under the pressure of high expectations and high valuations, some companies have not released their earnings reports, leading to market volatility. The Nasdaq index has been fluctuating, while the Russell 2000 index has been moving against the trend!
In the past 6 trading days, the Russell 2000 index has outperformed the Nasdaq 100 index by nearly 10%.
Why? Influenced by expectations of interest rate cuts, investors believe that borrowing costs for small-cap stocks will decrease, making them more willing to invest in these companies.
After a prolonged rise in tech stocks, some investors have started selling stocks to take profits and are turning to invest in small-cap stocks with lower valuations.
Expectations of interest rate cuts directly impact interest rate-sensitive industries in small-cap stocks such as real estate and finance, but due to high valuations, large-cap stocks face greater volatility risks.
The performance period of the seven tech giants in the US stock market is turbulent.
Why? Some tech giants’ actual financial performance has not met market expectations, leading investors to sell off in anticipation of poor results. Macro-economic factors such as inflation, interest rate changes, and global supply chain issues have affected the profit-making ability and market confidence of large companies.
Some tech companies are also facing pressure from governments and regulatory agencies, especially with the possibility of new policies under the Trump administration, causing some concerns about their future development.
The Nasdaq index is highly dependent on tech stocks, as the performance fluctuations of these giant companies directly impact the index’s performance.
The Rise of the Russell 2000 Index
Investors are turning to small-cap companies to diversify risks. This trend has benefited the Russell 2000 Index.
With the recovery of the U.S. economy, many small-cap companies are benefiting from increased local market demand.
Coupled with rate cuts and loose monetary policies, small-cap companies find it easier to obtain financing to expand their businesses. The Russell 2000 Index represents small-cap stocks, which are sensitive to interest rates.
Given the high volatility of tech stocks, investors may consider investing in small-cap companies to diversify risks appropriately;
Keep a close eye on macroeconomic indicators and policy changes to understand their potential impact on companies of different sizes;
Maintain patience, focus on company fundamentals, and long-term potential.
Introduction to the Russell 2000 Index
The Russell 2000 Index is an important stock market index that measures small-cap companies in the United States. It is compiled and maintained by Russell Investments.
It is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index, which includes the largest 3000 companies in the U.S., focusing on the smaller market capitalization of 2000 companies.
Annually in June, the index constituents are re-adjusted based on market capitalization data. Companies in the Russell 3000 Index are ranked by market capitalization, with the top 1000 companies forming the Russell 1000 Index, and the remaining 2000 companies forming the Russell 2000 Index. The constituents are weighted by free float market capitalization, which refers to the portion of a company’s market capitalization that is publicly tradable.
A comprehensive index adjustment is conducted every June, and temporary adjustments are made when significant events occur in companies, such as mergers or bankruptcies.
Core Components
The Russell 2000 Index comprises small-cap companies from various industries, covering a wide range of economic sectors.
Firstly, the financial sector, including banks, insurance companies, and other financial service providers.
Secondly, the healthcare sector, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies.
Additionally, the industrial sector, including manufacturing and construction companies.
It also includes crucial information technology companies, such as software firms and hardware manufacturers.
Furthermore, it involves consumer goods, including retail and food service providers.
The performance of the Russell 2000 Index often aligns with the overall market trends, but due to the higher risks and growth potential of small-cap companies, its volatility is also higher.
Rate cut review
Small-cap companies will benefit from lower financing costs and looser monetary policy, which will have a positive impact on the Russell 2000 Index.
During the bursting of the dot-com bubble and the subsequent economic downturn in 2001, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates multiple times. The Russell 2000 Index experienced significant volatility during this period, but overall performance lagged behind the large-cap stock indices.
During the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve made substantial rate cuts. Initially, the Russell 2000 Index experienced a sharp decline, but as policy effects and market confidence recovered, small-cap companies rebounded first, outperforming large-cap companies.
During the global economic slowdown and trade tensions in 2019, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. The Russell 2000 Index showed strong performance, indicating the sensitivity of small-cap companies to policy changes.
How to invest in the Russell 2000 Index?
Russell 2000 Index Fund
Open an account through a large online brokerage platform (such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, etc.), search and purchase.
Purchase directly from the options provided by fund companies (Vanguard and iShares).
Russell 2000 ETF
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): This is one of the most popular Russell 2000 ETFs, offering direct tracking of the performance of the Russell 2000 Index.
Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO): An ETF provided by Vanguard, with lower fees and widely favored by investors.
SPDR Russell 2000 ETF (TWOK): Provided by State Street Global Advisors, it is also a common choice.
How to purchase? Choose a brokerage platform (E*TRADE, Robinhood, TDAmeritrade, etc.), open an account, search for the ETF code, and proceed with the purchase.
The Russell 2000 Index includes 2000 small-cap companies, which can be searched for on the Russell official website or financial websites such as Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, or Bloomberg.
Investors can achieve their investment goals through diversification, long-term holding, and dollar-cost averaging strategies.
In China, investors can invest in the Russell 2000 Index through QDII (Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor) funds, but currently there are no QDII funds publicly approved for this purpose.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice. Investment involves risks, so caution is advised when entering the market.
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