The US economy expanded at a slower pace than expected in the fourth quarter with the slowdown in corporate investment. A fall in government spending and a trade deficit growing took shine to greater gains in consumer spending over the past nine years. Gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 2.6%, after a 5% gain in the third quarter, which was the highest level since 2003. The estimate of economists pointed to 3%. Although the American economy is the most dynamic among the main economic regions of the world, some factors have weighed on US actions. One such factor is the strength of the dollar which reduces the competitiveness of US companies as well as the amount of revenue they generate in foreign markets. The companies in the SP500 have a very broad geographic exposure, making them sensitive to this factor. The second factor has to do with monetary policy. Although the FED proves “patient” (in the words of the central bank itself) in relation to rising interest rates, investors know that the trend is for monetary policy to be less accommodating in future. This trend contrasts with that observed in other economic areas such as Japan and Europe. Perhaps this is the most important factor to the extent that monetary policy the Fed was the main catalyst for the bull market started in 2009.