Published on January 10, 2025
Weekly Strategy Perspectives - Week ending 01-10-2025
Investors are notorious for disliking surprises and the year just ending brought plenty. Instead of slipping into recession, the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of nearly 3%. Instead of the expected six or seven interest rate cuts, the U.S. Federal Reserve made just three in 2024 and didn’t even begin its rate-cutting program until September. Instead of a lengthy and fraught election, results came quickly and decisively. Through it all, despite incendiary headlines, equity markets were, for the most part, oddly calm. That was a harsh lesson for those who tried to time the markets. They moved to the sidelines and waited for a pullback that didn’t quite emerge. What other insights from the “gift” of these surprises can set us up for success in 2025?