Equity markets managed to eke out small gains last week, despite a jump in volatility.
Tensions and violence continued to escalate in Africa and the Middle East. The threat of contagion across the region to larger oil-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, has pushed crude oil prices well above $100 per barrel and has many investors seeking to reduce this risk from their portfolios.
Read more in this week’s Market Summary. (PDF, new window)