The first quarter of 2024 saw all new market highs with Large-Cap stocks leading the charge amid economic growth coming in at 3.2% in the 4th quarter of 2023 and a continued descent of inflation toward the Fed’s 2% long-term target. The Federal Reserve sparked investor enthusiasm for aggressive policy easing in 2024 after they signaled that rates are at their cycle peak. In the first half of Q1, better than anticipated economic readings tempered the policy easing expectations, but at the same time promulgated the message of a U.S. soft-landing. This served as a catalyst for new market highs.
