SPY vs. EEM vs. Gold vs. Bitcoin: How $1,000 Invested In Each In 2023 Fared

The first half of 2024 saw impressive gains across major asset classes, fueled by expectations of rate cuts and strong economic performance. US equities led the charge, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) gaining 14.5%, driven by AI optimism and falling inflation. Emerging markets, represented by iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), had a mixed performance, diverging from the US market initially but later aligning before diverging again. Gold, benefiting from expectations of a weaker dollar, saw a surge reaching $2,464.50 in May before retracting. Bitcoin, after a strong 2023, experienced a volatile ride in 2024, reaching an all-time intraday high of $74,415 in March before pulling back to around $63,000. An investment of $1,000 at the end of 2023 would have yielded $1,152.20 in SPY, $1,066.70 in EEM, $1,127 in Gold Futures, and $1,483 in Bitcoin, demonstrating Bitcoin's significant outperformance.