Asset Class Rebounding After Bad Months

Back in January I examined some of the worst months on record for 5 main asset classes in a piece titled, "Time to put money to work". The summary:

What are the key take-aways?

- It does not pay to buy an asset class after a really bad month for the following 1 month.

- 12 months later the return is not much different than average.

- 3 and 6 month returns, however, are stronger. You pick up on average about 3-4% abnormal returns buying after a terrible month. That annualizes to about 10% per annum.

A simple strategy would be:

After an asset class has a terrible month (i.e. MSCI EAFE in January), wait a month then take a 2 month position, i.e. buy March 1 with a two month hold.

How did that perform, buying March 1 with a two month hold? Using the iShares Trust MSCI EAFE Index Fund (EFA), I show a return of 5.9%, not too shabby! The other two poorly performing asset classes were foreign developed - iMCSI Emerging Markets Index Fund (EEM), which would have done about 5%, and foreign REITs - SPDR DJ Wilshire International Real Estate (RWX), which would have done about 4.9%.