Leon Cooperman warns that a stock market rally could be the 'close-out move'

Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman told CNBC on Thursday the stock market is in a “zone of fair value” at current levels.

The Omega Advisors chairman and CEO warned that a really big move higher in stocks could signal “the close-out move,” meaning the end of the recent bullish run.

The S&P 500 closed Wednesday at 2,926 — less than 1% from its all-time record high on May 1, and U.S. stock futures were pointing to a strong Thursday open.

An S&P 500 increase to 3,100 in the near term — nearly 6% above Wednesday’s close — would be “knocking on the door of euphoria,” Cooperman said in a “Squawk Box” interview.

“I’d be reducing my exposure” in stocks if that were to happen, he added. However, he said he’s now “enjoying” the move, with about 75% invested in the market with the rest in fixed income.

Cooperman, whose firm is now closed to outside investors, questioned why Wall Street is looking for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve when the market is near record highs. He said the Fed has been too easy, and he described monetary policy as “inappropriate.”

The Fed, after its two-day June meeting Wednesday, signaled possible rate cuts later this year.

Cooperman said the fed funds overnight lending rate should be at 3% not 2%. The current target range is 2.25% to 2.5% after the central bank raised the cost of borrowing last year in four quarter-point moves.

Investors should consider that President Donald Trump “wants everything good now,” Cooperman argued, saying that Trump administration policies are pulling demand forward.

The president has been blasting Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for raising rates in 2018, and urging the central bank chief to reduce rates to keep economic growth strong.