'Often the greatest returns come in the final stages of the cycle'

Valuations remain high

After an unusually long bull market run lasting over eight years, it is understandably more difficult to justify investing in US equities today.

Valuations are elevated by historic standards, with a lot of positive expectations already built into earnings forecasts. Complacency is also high, if measures such as the VIX index are to be believed. Warning of equity sell-off as investors lulled into 'false sense of security' Yet uncertainty over the future remains high - with doubts over whether Trump can deliver on his pledges, as well as potential inflation and interest rate inflection points. There are also possible sparks in Europe, Syria and North Korea. However, there are reasons to retain exposure to this dynamic and ...