The star-spangled challenge: Equity investors split on US as indices hit all-time high

Easing trade tensions and growing corporate earnings behind improved metrics

Concerns over "extreme valuations", a slowing growth backdrop and uncertainty over future earnings growth have seen some investors pare back their US equities exposure, while others expect the longest bull market in history to endure as the market’s key indices continue to break records.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit an all-time high early last week amid reports that the White House was planning to hold back on further trade tariffs on China. Vibrant capitalism and Silicon Valley: The secret sauce of US equities It followed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices, which also posted record highs late the previous week after the US jobs report delivered more encouraging figures than had been expected. Since the bottom of the market on 9 March 2009, the Dow and S&P 500 have returned 442.4% and 467.6% respectively to 5 November, according to FE Fundinfo. Mea...