It had to end eventually. Whether last week’s shift in the pole position endures is something else entirely. But for the moment, US equities are no longer leading the horse race for the major asset classes year to date, based on a set of proxy ETFs through Friday’s close (Mar. 15).

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* Fed will to keep rates higher for longer, economists advise in poll, but…
* BIS chief predicts rate cuts are still likely this year
* Another potential partial-government shutdown lurks, again, on Friday
* China reports firmer economic data in retail and industrial sectors, but…
* The ailing property market in China shows is still struggling
* Working in old age isn’t as effective as it seems for the retirement crisis
* US retail spending leveling off as consumers pull back:

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