US: How to play a difficult environment for investors

There has been an increase in growth rate volatility, uncertainty of currency direction, and lack of clarity on interest rates this year, writes Douglas Burtnick, Aberdeen's deputy head of North American equities.

As a result, we see a renewed focus on high quality companies that are differentiated and built to withstand a few headwinds. This can be a decent approach to equities in today's investment environment. Within the US, we believe there are attractive opportunities in every economic sector. For those with the patience to dig deep into a company's background, there are many companies with strong management teams, healthy balance sheets and strong growth strategies. When it comes to a company's growth strategies, it is important to determine whether these strategies are sustainable during...