The Russell 2000, an index tracking the performance of small-to-mid-cap companies, ended 2023 in better shape than when it started. In particular, Russell 2000 stocks 16.8% in 2023, below that of both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices, which appreciated 24.2% and 43.4%, respectively. Outside of just tracking some pretty obscure companies that tended to underperform, the Russell 2000 was also undoubtedly shaken by the U.S. banking crisis in March. The index had been trailing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since then.St ...