Equities can continue to make gains this year after the rally to new highs. After a powerful fourth quarter rally, equity investors were a bit skittish at the start of 2024. But they have since driven the US S&P 500 index to new highs. More gains lie ahead. Stock markets are in a very sweet spot and we expect they will make more new highs in 2024. This can be chalked up to moderating but continued economic growth, cooling inflation and upcoming central bank cuts to interest rates. But we also point to these key reasons: