US equities continued to climb higher in May, with the S&P 500 Index rising 5.1%. Further de-escalation of geopolitical tension in the Middle East has paved the way for the market’s 19.5% advance from the late-March lows.

ClearBridge Investments suggests investors could use volatility as an opportunity to deploy capital, while modestly favoring the stronger earnings revisions and more reasonable valuations available in non-US equities.

lthough AI is often blamed for labor weakness, the data suggests other dynamics are at play, as job creation is slowing most in industries with low AI adoption. Given the strong outlook for corporate earnings and policy support, the authors maintain a positive view, advising investors to "buy the dip."