Below is a look at the year-to-date returns (in local currency) of stock markets for 75 countries around the world. The average country has posted a gain of 8.94% year-to-date, and 59 of the 75 countries (79%) are in the green. Argentina and Greece have posted the biggest YTD gains at this point with moves of 40%+. Russia ranks third with a gain of 30.89%, followed by Jamaica (+26.79%), Romania (+22.22%), and New Zealand (21.29%).

The United States has been the 8th biggest winner this year with a gain of 19.68%. Notice that six of the seven G7 countries are roughly in the top third, which means developed countries have been doing very well this year. Japan is the biggest laggard of the G7 countries, but it’s hard to be too disappointed with its YTD gain of 8.14%.

Three of the four BRIC countries rank in the top fourteen, led by Russia at +30.89%. Brazil ranks second of the BRICs with a YTD gain of 19.58%, while China is up 17%. India ranks last of the BRICs at +7.64%.

Lebanon and Oman have been the two worst-performing countries this year with declines of just over 10%. Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are all down more than 8%, while Kenya is down just over 5%. The remaining countries in the red are only down slightly.