The market is being buffeted by conflicting headwinds, making the pundits’ job harder. While inflation appears to be moderating, with the annualized rate down to 5% in March – the lowest since the summer of 2021 – the job market remains surprisingly robust. Last month, the BLS reported 253,000 new jobs, exceeding the predicted 180K, and an unemployment rate of just 3.4% compared to a forecast of 3.6%. The robust job numbers present a challenge for the Federal Reserve, which is tasked with managi