The U.S. housing market is slowing, especially on the East and West coasts, but not enough to do much damage to stock prices this year.
Robert Doll, chief investment officer of global equities at BlackRock Inc., New York, gave that assessment today during a teleconference.
Weakness in the housing market and industries that support the housing market could slow growth in the U.S. economy to 2% to 2.5% this year, Doll predicted.
But economic growth outside the United States remains strong, inflation concerns are muted, earnings are going up, and cash flow and liquidity levels are good, Doll said.
Stock prices should experience another good year, Doll said.