Here are the best and worst performing stock markets of 2018

Major stock markets across the world suffered their worst calendar year since the financial crisis in 2018, leaving many global investors fearful of further declines over the coming months.

Simmering trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, growing concerns over rising interest rates and pernicious geopolitical issues — such as Brexit — battered financial markets last year.

With few of these issues resolved at the turn of the year, many market participants worry there could be even further declines over the coming months.

But, there were some notable exceptions to the general doom and gloom over the past 12 months.

CNBC takes a look at some of the best and worst performing global stock market indexes in U.S. dollar denominated terms for 2018.

Ukraine +80.39%
Ukraine's stock market index (PFTS) skyrocketed more than 80 percent in 2018, according to data sourced from Refinitv, comfortably becoming the top performer worldwide.

This rise came despite Ukraine's request for help from its international partners at the EU and NATO after Russia seized three naval vessels and 23 crew members in late November.

The incident happened in the Kerch Strait, a channel that separates the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, to the south of Ukraine and Russia.

Macedonia +30.41%
The blue-chip MBI 10 index of the Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) rose almost a third in 2018.

It comes after the country reached a breakthrough agreement with Greece to settle a long-running name dispute.

Skopje agreed to change its country name to Republic of North Macedonia in June, effectively ending perceptions by some that it held territorial claims to the Greek province of Macedonia. The move must still be ratified by both Macedonian and Greek parliaments.

Qatar +20.87%
Qatar's stock exchange surged over 20 percent in U.S. dollar denominated terms in 2018. The small Gulf state officially left OPEC on Tuesday, ending a membership which had stood for more than half-a-century.

Doha announced it would leave the Middle East denominated group shortly before a critical meeting between the influential oil cartel and its allies in December.

Since June 2017, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia — along with three other Arab states — has cut trade and transport ties with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism and its regional rival Iran.

Qatar denies the claims, saying the boycott hampers its national sovereignty.

UAE +11.75%
The United Arab Emirates' ADX General Index rose nearly 12 percent in 2018.

UAE Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansuri told reporters in early December that he expects the Arab world's second-largest economy to grow between 2.5 percent and 3 percent in 2019. The projections are in line with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) forecast.

Venezuela -94.89%
The worst stock market performer in U.S. dollar denominated terms in 2018 was Venezuela. The crisis-stricken country saw its IBVC index collapse more than 94 percent, as President Nicolas Maduro attempts to end a prolonged period of economic turmoil in the oil-rich but cash-poor nation.

Argentina -50.2%
Argentina struggled to cope with yet another financial crisis in 2018.

The South American country's stock market index closed more than 50 percent lower in 2018, after Buenos Aires found itself at the epicentre of an emerging markets financial spiral.

The emerging markets have been hurt by U.S. Federal Reserve rate hikes, which have driven up the value of the dollar versus other currencies, making it more expensive to repay dollar-denominated debt. Trade wars have also been a factor, and they hurt commodity prices. Commodities are important revenue sources in emerging markets.

Turkey -43.35%
As Argentina's currency suffered last year, other emerging markets' currencies fell in sympathy — with Turkey's lira also registering steep losses.

Policy disagreements between the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his central bank gave rise to market nerves and, complicating matters further, Turkey's detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson was a source of ongoing tension in 2018. Souring relations between Washington and Ankara initiated a rout in Turkish assets, before Brunson was eventually released in mid-October.

The country's stock market index fell more than 43 percent in U.S. dollar denominated terms.

China -28.64%
China's Shanghai composite index lost more than a quarter of its value in 2018, as trade tensions with the U.S. took hold.

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a 90-day cease-fire at the start of December, but external observers remain deeply skeptical about the chances of Washington and Beijing agreeing to a comprehensive trade pact in the proposed timeframe.

Source: CNBC

Picture: pixabay.com

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