• Products
  • Insights
  • Practice Management
  • Resources
  • About Us

Geopolitical uncertainty can cause short-term market volatility, but the stock market has been resilient. In fact, stocks generated positive performance one year after an act of aggression for 75% of the armed conflicts since World War II. The longer the investment time frame, the more likely a positive return.

 

Geopolitical/Military Events S&P 500 Index Price Return (%)
Event (Start Date) 3 Months Later Annualized
1 Year Later 3 Years Later 5 Years Later 10 Years Later
Germany Invades France (May 1940) -15.3 -22.0 -0.9 4.1 4.2
Pearl Harbor Attack (December 1941) -12.4 0.4 11.7 9.5 9.6
Korean War (June 1950) 1.5 11.2 8.1 16.4 11.7
Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962) 17.4 32.0 18.3 11.4 7.0
US Bombs Cambodia (April 1970) -4.6 27.1 9.4 0.9 2.6
Arab Oil Embargo (October 1973) -13.2 -36.2 -2.9 -1.4 4.4
Iranian Hostage Crisis (November 1979) 11.6 25.9 11.4 10.3 12.7
USSR Invades Afghanistan (December 1979) -8.8 26.2 9.1 9.0 12.4
Beirut Bombing (October 1983) -0.7 0.7 13.0 11.3 10.8
US Invades Grenada (November 1983) -1.1 0.7 12.8 11.2 10.8
US Bombs Libya (April 1986) -0.5 19.9 8.3 9.9 10.5
Invasion of Panama (December 1989) -2.9 -6.9 7.5 5.6 15.0
Iraq Invades Kuwait (August 1990) -10.5 10.2 8.6 9.7 15.1
Operation Desert Storm (January 1991) 21.5 32.3 14.5 14.0 15.4
Gorbachev Coup (August 1991) -1.8 9.3 6.3 11.5 11.9
World Trade Center Bombing (February 1993) 1.5 5.4 13.7 18.7 6.5
9/11 Terrorist Attacks (September 2001) 2.5 -16.7 0.9 3.5 0.6
Iraq War (March 2003) 15.6 27.0 14.3 8.2 5.9
Russia Invades Georgia (August 2008) -34.3 -22.3 -4.7 5.5 8.1
Russia Invades Crimea (March 2014) 3.9 10.7 8.0 7.9 ---
Russia Invades Ukraine (February 2022) -13.0 -11.0      
Hamas Attacks Israel (October 2023)          
Median -1.1 9.3 8.8 9.6 10.5
% Positive 40% 75% 85% 95% 100%

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Indices are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Data shown is for the S&P 500 Price Index, a market capitalization-weighted price index composed of 500 widely held common stocks, and does not include the reinvestment of dividend payments. Data Sources: Morningstar, Ned Davis Research, and Hartford Funds, 10/23.

Geopolitical Conflicts Have Had Minimal Impact on Long-Term Equity Performance
Growth of $10,000 in the S&P 500 Price Index (1940–2023)

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Indices are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Data shown does not include the reinvestment of dividend payments. Data Sources: Morningstar, Ned Davis Research, and Hartford Funds, 10/23.

Talk to your financial professional to help you stay focused during volatility.

 

Important Risks: Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. 

 

CCWP114 3176094

The material on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. The material should not be considered tax or legal advice and is not to be relied on as a forecast. The material is also not a recommendation or advice regarding any particular security, strategy or product. Hartford Funds does not represent that any products or strategies discussed are appropriate for any particular investor so investors should seek their own professional advice before investing. Hartford Funds does not serve as a fiduciary. Content is current as of the publication date or date indicated, and may be superseded by subsequent market and economic conditions.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the mutual fund, or ETF summary prospectus and/or prospectus, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.

Mutual funds are distributed by Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC (HFD), Member FINRA|SIPC. ETFs are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc. (ALPS). Advisory services may be provided by Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (HFMC) or its wholly owned subsidiary, Lattice Strategies LLC (Lattice). Certain funds are sub-advised by Wellington Management Company LLP and/or Schroder Investment Management North America Inc (SIMNA). Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd. (SIMNA Ltd) serves as a secondary sub-adviser to certain funds. HFMC, Lattice, Wellington Management, SIMNA, and SIMNA Ltd. are all SEC registered investment advisers. Hartford Funds refers to HFD, Lattice, and HFMC, which are not affiliated with any sub-adviser or ALPS. The funds and other products referred to on this Site may be offered and sold only to persons in the United States and its territories.

© Copyright 2024 Hartford Funds Management Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value