EWA Stock Market and Portfolio Commentary Q1 2025

1. Portfolio Adjustments:

• Increased equity exposure from 1% to 4% overweight, focusing on U.S. equities and the momentum factor due to strong earnings and economic data.
• Added a small allocation to gold, driven by central bank demand and geopolitical factors, funded by trimming fixed income.
• Shortened bond duration and added to high-yield and convertible bonds for better returns and lower interest rate risk.

2. Economic Indicators:

• Strong GDP growth (2.8% Q3), moderating inflation (~2.2%), and resilient consumer spending support a positive outlook.
• Labor market cooling and declining wage growth suggest continued inflation moderation, enabling potential Fed rate cuts.

3. Strategic Focus:

• Positioned for a broader market rally post-election, leaning into growth stocks due to consistent outperformance.
• Adjusted stock-to-bond ratio (e.g., 84/16 for an 80/20 investor) and maintained flexibility to adapt to macroeconomic trends.