Best-Performing Areas in a Blockbuster Year for Stocks

Market Performance - NASDAQ 100 index is up approximately 22% year-to-date [3] - S&P 500 index has increased by about 18% [3] - Russell 2000 small cap index is up around 16% year-to-date [4] - Dow Jones index has risen by approximately 15% [4] - Technology sector has seen the best performance, increasing by about 25% year-to-date [4] - Communication services sector is up approximately 21% [4] - Gold has increased by 65% and silver by 139% [5] ETF Performance - iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF is up about 206% [7] - Global X Gold Explorer ETF (GOEX) has increased by approximately 195% [7] - ProShares S&P Global Core Battery Metal ETF (ION) is up about 106% [9] - Sprott Critical Materials ETF has risen by approximately 96% [9] - Global X Disruptive Materials ETF (DMAT) is also up about 96% [9] - VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) has increased by approximately 94% [9] - Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) is up about 77% [13] - Stoxx Europe Aerospace and Defence ETF (EAD) has risen by approximately 73% [13] Key Drivers & Themes - Gains in gold are driven by persistent central bank buying [5] - Precious metals benefit from investors seeking alternatives to US dollar denominated assets [6] - Critical materials are driven by electrification, digitization, clean energy transition, and supply chain concentration [8] - Rising geopolitical tensions are fueling a boom in defense spending [13]