S&P Dow Jones Indices Recaps 2012 Financial Market Performance; Identifies Headwinds That Could Impact Returns in 2013

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world's largest provider of financial market indices, has released today a review on the performance of the financial markets in 2012 and a look at the factors that could potentially impact asset class and broad market performance in 2013 discussing housing and the economy, commodities, U.S. equities, and the municipal bond market.

Key Takeaways
Housing/Economy - Dr. David Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee

    --  Housing will contribute to U.S. economic growth in 2013.
    --  Economically, we can't afford to slide over the fiscal cliff over the
        short-term.
    --  Longer-term, business barometers all look favorable for economic
        expansion, even if we fall over the fiscal cliff.

Commodities - Jodie Gunzberg, Director of Commodity Indices

    --  After a tumultuous year in commodities, expect fundamentals to anchor
        2013.
    --  China's increased need for oil could offset demand declines in the U.S.
        and Europe.
    --  The commodities unknown: the impact of quantitative easing and the
        Eurozone crisis.

U.S. Equities - Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst