Summary: Markets pushed to new highs on the combination of better-than-expected earnings and stimulus from rate cuts, offsetting and providing a counterpoint to the slowing global growth narrative. The debate in the market over the last 12-months has revolved around the length of the current expansion, valuations, and the likelihood of a downturn in the economic cycle. While there are certainly reasons to be concerned, we continue to focus on the strength of the U.S. consumer. (Consumer spending is more than 2/3 of economic activity in the largest economy in the world, after all.) The consumer remains in a very good state due to the best job market in decades and modest-to-non-existent inflation. We also remain bullish on the innovative qualities of U.S. companies and we believe that access to capital (both for companies and individuals) remains good.
