In spite of a mid-month plunge, both the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average® closed October at all-time highs. Defensive strategies thrived, with the S&P 500 Low Volatility index ending up 5%. Though volatility spiked during the period, the end result was fairly muted, and the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures index declined 2%.
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The S&P MidCap 400 and the S&P SmallCap 600 both delivered strong performances, gaining 4% and 7%, respectively.
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U.S. fixed income indices registered strong performances across the board. Both medium- and long-term treasury yields declined. The S&P/BGCantor 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index gained 3%.
