South Africa, Jan. 29 -- And just as investors went into 2024 relatively optimistic that several interest rate cuts were on the cards, today there is market optimism that deregulation and corporate tax cuts will provide a boost especially to US equities.

While the 2024 interest rate cuts came later and less substantial than expected (the first cut was in September 2024, and the United States (US) did not cut by more than 1% for the entire year) they nevertheless gave breathing room for other economies to ease their rates. According to the Bank of International Settlements over 75% of central banks, including our own, eased monetary policy in the past six months.

Consequently, in late 2023, post the dovish pivot for the US Federal Reserv...