Market Performance - The market experienced two new highs and three up days out of four during the holiday week, indicating strong performance [1] - The leading sectors included the Magnificent Seven, Large Caps, and Growth stocks, suggesting a continuation of trends in these areas [1] Analyst Background - The analyst has 28 years of experience as a professional trader, analyst, and portfolio manager, previously managing the equity trading desk at Northern Trust Co. in Chicago [1] - The analyst is now a private investor and founder of a nonprofit investor advocacy firm, with an average annual return of 17.2% since January 2009 [1] Investment Strategy - The analyst publishes stock picks in a newsletter format, providing updates on market outlook and model portfolios to subscribers on a weekly basis [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint highlights the negative impact of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown on the economy and the ongoing challenges faced by the Federal Reserve due to a lack of official data [1] - The recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve has reignited market interest in small-cap stocks, which have outperformed large-cap stocks by nearly 4% since April [2] - Employment data has shown a concerning trend, with a reported loss of 91,100 jobs from April 2024 to March 2025, raising investor concerns about data reliability [1] Group 2 - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut has led to an increased allocation to U.S. small-cap stocks, shifting the allocation stance to neutral for large-cap stocks [2] - The macro environment is favorable for growth stocks, particularly in the AI/technology sector, prompting a shift towards growth-oriented investments [2] - The company maintains a low allocation to bonds due to inflation and fiscal stimulus financing demands, which may keep interest rates under pressure [2]