The US economy faces a looming deceleration as tighter monetary policy starts to weigh on activity and ratchets up pressure on financial markets, according to the world’s biggest hedge fund.
Bob Prince, co-chief investment officer at Bridgewater, believes the recent market turmoil was triggered by investors realising that this year’s strong economic growth and robust corporate earnings were likely peaking, as interest rates rise and the boost from tax cuts fades.
“A lot of optimism about future earnings growth has been baked into equity valuations. But we are at a potential inflection point where the economy is moving from hot to mediocre,” Mr Prince said in an interview.