With an S&P 500 gain of 18% in the first four months, 2019 ranks as the fourth best start to a year on record and is one of only 15 times since 1950 with four consecutive positive months to begin the year. Key events on the month included kicking the Brexit can again down the road, Q1 earnings calls, central bank policy decisions, and China trade/credit stimulus developments. Relative economic strength in the U.S. bolstered the US dollar for the month, now up over 6% in the prior year.