Employment numbers for November came in lower than expected. That statistic, together with easing inflation numbers, has buttressed the hope that the Fed has finished raising rates for the foreseeable future. Speculation on this score will be either confirmed or trashed following the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on the 12th-13th of December. Meanwhile, the market, which anticipates, has apparently decided that the Fed will hold the line at its current 5.25%-5.50% target, prompting a November market uptick. Like the rest of the boats in the currently rising tide, the Easton Episcopal Fund has benefited, retaining its solid ranking (top 30% for the past three rolling years) in the universe of 600-plus balanced funds.