Weekly Market Commentary 03/03/2017

Notwithstanding the setback on Thursday, the reflation trade in the financial markets is alive and well, buttressed by some supportive data on the economic and inflation fronts as well as the persistent climb in business and consumer confidence. Nor is the growing expectation that the Fed may hike interest rates at its next meeting on March 14-15 putting a damper on investor euphoria, which is a remarkable shift from the mind-set on Wall Street a year ago. Recall that early last year, any suggestion the Fed would pull the rate trigger sent tremors through the markets and contributed to the 10% plunge in stock prices over the first six weeks of the year.