Stocks, Bonds, Gold, Crypto: Market Update 3/17/2026
Here is a quick snapshot of how different asset classes moved yesterday, last week, and the last month.
- Equity rose 0.3% yesterday, after falling -0.9% weekly and -1.6% monthly.
- Bonds increased 0.2% yesterday, following declines of -0.3% for the week and -1.2% for the month.
- Gold dropped -0.3% yesterday, continuing losses for the week and month.
- Commodities held steady at 0% yesterday, with 0% weekly and 9.5% monthly returns.
- Real Estate gained 0.4% yesterday, despite weekly and monthly drops of -0.3% and -1.3%.
- Bitcoin rose 0.4% yesterday and stayed positive for both weekly and monthly periods.
| ETF | 1D | 1W | 1M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | 0.3% | -0.9% | -1.6% |
| Bonds | AGG | 0.2% | -0.3% | -1.2% |
| Gold | GLD | -0.3% | -3.9% | -0.7% |
| Commodities | DBC | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.5% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | 0.4% | -0.3% | -1.3% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | 0.4% | 7.5% | 9.2% |
Why does it matter?
- See where capital is flowing: Asset class performance reveals investor sentiment, from risk-on rallies to flight-to-safety moves.
- Track shifts in correlation: Rising correlations reduce diversification benefits and increase portfolio risk during stress.
- Spot early signs of rotation: Leadership changing across stocks, bonds, or commodities often precedes macro regime shifts.
Trefis works with Empirical Asset Management – a Boston area wealth manager – whose asset allocation strategies yielded positive returns during the 2008-09 period when the S&P lost more than 40%. Empirical has incorporated the Trefis HQ Portfolio in this asset allocation framework to provide clients better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Capital Flow Patterns Have Governed Historical Risk-Return Profile
| ETF | Return | Volatility | Sharpe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | 14.8% | 15.0% | 84.0% |
| Bonds | AGG | 1.8% | 5.2% | -12.7% |
| Gold | GLD | 14.3% | 14.6% | 78.5% |
| Commodities | DBC | 8.5% | 15.9% | 42.6% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | 5.8% | 17.9% | 28.8% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | 68.2% | 76.1% | 100.0% |
Figures are on annualized basis, based on monthly return data for last 10 years
How Stable Is Correlation Between Different Asset Classes?
| Equity | Bonds | Gold | Commodities | Real Estate | Bitcoin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | – | 12% | 19% | 12% | 6.7% | 12% | 4.5% | 34% | 24% | 33% | 72% | 68% | 63% | 26% | 39% | 42% |
| Bonds | 12% | 19% | 12% | – | 32% | 29% | 7.7% | -0.6% | -3.1% | -14% | 28% | 38% | 37% | 11% | 7.2% | 0.2% |
| Gold | 6.7% | 12% | 4.5% | 32% | 29% | 7.7% | – | 29% | 38% | 48% | 13% | 17% | 8.7% | 10% | 9.4% | 12% |
| Commodities | 34% | 24% | 33% | -0.6% | -3.1% | -14% | 29% | 38% | 48% | – | 23% | 15% | 24% | 10% | 12% | 18% |
| Real Estate | 72% | 68% | 63% | 28% | 38% | 37% | 13% | 17% | 8.7% | 23% | 15% | 24% | – | 18% | 25% | 23% |
| Bitcoin | 26% | 39% | 42% | 11% | 7.2% | 0.2% | 10% | 9.4% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 18% | 18% | 25% | 23% | – |
The figures above are correlations for last 10Y, 5Y and 1Y, in same order
Which Assets Have Seen Most Money Rotation During Market Crashes?
| ETF | Inflation Shock | Covid Pandemic | 2018 Correction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | -23.0% | -30.4% | -19.3% |
| Bonds | AGG | -14.1% | -2.1% | 1.4% |
| Gold | GLD | -7.7% | -6.3% | 5.0% |
| Commodities | DBC | 20.5% | -23.7% | -16.5% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | -29.8% | -41.6% | -11.1% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | -56.0% | -33.5% | -37.4% |
The table shows return of different asset classes during market crises – specifically during the period where S&P fell and bottomed
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – S&P 500, Russell, and S&P midcap. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.