Does the data merit optimism or caution?

November was a surprisingly good month for U.S. equities after a disappointing October, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. Not only did the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 enjoy the best monthly returns of the year, but they were both outshone by the Russell 2000 (the index of smaller U.S. companies), which saw a monthly increase of 11%, a direct result of euphoria surrounding Trump’s America First agenda. Philip asks, is this performance sustainable, or have markets become complacent, ignoring some persistent risks?