The US mid-term elections have delivered a resounding victory for the Democratic Party, which now controls both the House and Senate in one of the strongest mid-term performances in recent history. Yet despite the political significance of the so-called "blue wave", the market implications may be less dramatic than the headlines suggest. Political shift, but likely limited policy impact Although Democrats now control both chambers of Congress, their ability to drive major policy changes may be relatively limited. President Trump remains in the White House and retains veto power. As a result, the most likely outcome is continued political gridlock rather than a wave of sweeping legislative changes. From a market perspective, that may not be a bad thing. Gridlock tends to reduce the risk of