Stocks, Bonds, Gold, Crypto: Market Update 3/20/2026

March 21st, 2026 by Trefis Team
SPY: S&P 500 logo
SPY
S&P 500

Here is a quick snapshot of how different asset classes moved yesterday, last week, and the last month.

  • Equity fell 1.7% yesterday and also declined over last week and month.
  • Bonds decreased 0.8% yesterday and stayed pressured through the week and month.
  • Gold dropped 3.1% yesterday, continuing losses for the week and month.
  • Commodities were flat yesterday, unchanged for the week and up 7% for the month.
  • Real estate slid 3.1% yesterday, showing weakness over the week and month.
  • Bitcoin gained 0.7% yesterday after falling 0.8% in the week and rising 5.1% monthly.

 

ETF 1D 1W 1M
Equity SPY -1.7% -2.1% -5.2%
Bonds AGG -0.8% -0.6% -2.2%
Gold GLD -3.1% -10.3% -10.0%
Commodities DBC 0.0% 0.0% 7.0%
Real Estate VNQ -3.1% -3.7% -5.8%
Bitcoin BTCUSD 0.7% -0.8% 5.1%

Why does it matter?

 

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  • 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 14.2% 15.0% 79.1%
Bonds AGG 1.7% 5.2% -13.9%
Gold GLD 13.2% 15.3% 70.2%
Commodities DBC 8.3% 15.9% 40.4%
Real Estate VNQ 5.0% 17.8% 23.5%
Bitcoin BTCUSD 66.8% 76.1% 98.6%

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% | 20% | 14% 7.2% | 12% | 6.8% 34% | 24% | 33% 72% | 68% | 64% 26% | 39% | 42%
Bonds 12% | 20% | 14% – 32% | 30% | 11% -0.6% | -3.1% | -14% 29% | 39% | 40% 11% | 7.3% | -0.4%
Gold 7.2% | 12% | 6.8% 32% | 30% | 11% – 29% | 38% | 48% 14% | 18% | 12% 11% | 9.8% | 13%
Commodities 34% | 24% | 33% -0.6% | -3.1% | -14% 29% | 38% | 48% – 23% | 15% | 23% 10% | 12% | 18%
Real Estate 72% | 68% | 64% 29% | 39% | 40% 14% | 18% | 12% 23% | 15% | 23% – 18% | 26% | 22%
Bitcoin 26% | 39% | 42% 11% | 7.3% | -0.4% 11% | 9.8% | 13% 10% | 12% | 18% 18% | 26% | 22% –

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 when 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 is evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.