In January, European equities closed the month higher, outperforming the US and narrowing part of the valuation gap between the two sides of the Atlantic. In addition to attractive valuation multiples, the eurozone has benefited from improving macro data (the composite PMI edged into expansionary territory at 50.2 in January and retail sales have risen for five consecutive months) and the ongoing rate-cutting cycle from the European Central Bank (ECB), while the Fed has decided to pause rate cuts.