MARKET OUTLOOK
AI & TECH DRIVE MARKET RETURNS In recent months, the market has been significantly influenced by the strong performance of growth stocks, particularly in the AI and tech sectors. Notable companies such as NVIDIA and Apple have showcased impressive growth, with NVIDIA's stock surging over 36% and Apple rising by more than 22% in the last quarter alone. NVIDIA's strategic decision to split their stock 10 to 1 and Apple's massive stock buyback at a record of $110 billion dollars have further cemented their positions as market leaders. These companies, which together hold a weight of almost 14% in the S&P 500, have been the primary drivers of market returns. This concentrated performance highlights the importance of large-cap growth stocks in the current market landscape. In contrast, other areas of the market, including small-cap stocks and bonds, have remained relatively flat or negative. Consequently, our portfolio has been strategically positioned to capitalize on these large-cap growth opportunities.
INFLATION: A PERSISTENT CHALLENGE
• While inflation has shown signs of peaking, it has stalled at levels higher than the Federal Reserve's target. The Fed's recent quarterly Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) indicates that inflation is expected to remain elevated, leading to a projected year-end Federal Funds Rate of around 5%. Consequently, the Fed's pace of rate reductions is likely to be more gradual, with only a modest decrease expected in 2024. We believe that any significant rate cuts will be driven more by rising unemployment rates than by declining inflation. Current unemployment rates have edged up from a low of 3.5% last year to around 4%, and further increases could prompt the Fed to act. Lorem ipsum semper • Lorem ipsum semper
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