Gold declined approximately 28% for the year of 2013, its worst annual performance since 1981 according to U.S.A Today. At that time, the downturn ended Gold’s own bull market run of 12 consecutive years as investors jumped on the back of this current bull market by piling into stock funds in 2013 and largely exiting bond funds.Read more
Most investors have most likely never even heard of Ukraine prior to the last two weeks. Now the future of Ukraine and potential repercussions on other countries in the region appear to be at the forefront of investor minds across the globe. Overall, Ukraine is a relatively small country in Eastern Europe with a population of about 46 million people that borders the likes of Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. Not known for much outside of fertile farm grounds, Ukraine was thrust into worldwide headlines when it removed its President on February 22, largely in response to mass, ongoing but intensified anti-government protests in the country that left many dead or wounded. Russia decided to step in with its military to purportedly protect its citizens residing in Crimea (one of the regions of eastern Ukraine), but many fear that this action may be an attempt by Russia to potentially take control of the region entirely and the start of a more wide reaching military campaign.Read more