The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) and US stock markets delivered their best week in more than a year.
The ASX 200 gained 3.3% over the five days while the Nasdaq was the standout in the US, up 8.2%.
As always, here are my three key investor takeaways from the week.
Crowded trades
Crowded trades may well be the financial term of 2022. Used to describe the situation where an idea, bet or a specific company or theme, is identified and flooded into by investors of all kinds.
In many cases, these crowded trades are driven by momentum and the fear of missing out that causes exuberance in markets.
First it was the technology sector, which sold off significant in January, then the mining sector despite calls of a boom, and more recently oil, which fell 30% in just three days.
Distinguishing whether an idea is sustainable or in fashion will be key to protecting capital in this volatile environment.
All systems go for rates
The Federal Reserve has joined New Zealand and the UK by raising rates for the first time in years, by 0.25%.
Whilst it remains quite clear that this level of rate hike will have little impact on the inflation being experienced, it is clearly aimed at reducing the support to financial markets. The question now is whether the US economy is facing a recession and what this means for investors.
Loosening the reins
It seems the Chinese Government has grown tired of seeing foreign capital leave its shores with an about-face in a number of policy decisions putting a rocket into the share market.
News that the government would agree to provide more transparency to the US, would cut taxes on property purchases and reverse regulatory crackdowns on big tech triggered a significant turnaround in the likes of Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and JD.com (NASDAQ: JD).