ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Advisor Confidence Index (ACI), a benchmark that gauges advisor views on the U.S. economy and stock market, reports that advisor confidence nudged slightly up in January with the index closing at 102.50. In December, the index closed at 99.31.
"Worldwide markets in 2012 will have great volatility because of the overwhelming disapproval of governments worldwide, but economic fundamentals can remain stable," said Rob Siegmann, financial advisor with Financial Management Group.
Among the economic components of the ACI, advisors' 12-month outlook decreased 4% to 100 from 104.17. "Europe will continue to plague progress in the global economic recovery and fuel ongoing outsized volatility in financial markets," said Steven Brill, financial advisor with Spielberger Dampf Brill & Levine LLC. "Slow growth and soft real estate values will encourage a dovish Fed response throughout 2013."
| Current economic outlook | 9.41% |
| Six-month economic outlook | -3.33% |
| 12-month economic outlook | -4.00% |
| Stock market outlook | 11.55% |
Graphs reflecting the ACI number can be found here: http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/17674/file/12386.pdf
Advisors were asked an additional question this month about the 2012 presidential election and its impact on the economy and financial stability of the markets, with 40% stating interest rates will remain low. Fifty percent of respondents stated that nothing will change regardless if a democrat or republican is elected into office.
About Advisor Confidence Index's Methodology
The Advisor Confidence Index is a benchmark that gauges advisors' views on the economy. Modeled after the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, the ACI captures the sentiments of 150 independent registered investment advisors (RIAs). The index's analysis is based on the number of completed surveys and reflects only information from those surveys. This information is intended to be general in nature, and these overviews are no substitute for professional, legal, or consulting advice. This information should not be construed as advice from Rydex|SGI AdvisorBenchmarking, Inc. or any of its affiliates.
About Rydex|SGI AdvisorBenchmarking, an affiliate of Rydex|SGI
Rydex|SGI AdvisorBenchmarking is a research and analysis center focused on the registered investment advisor (RIA) marketplace. Every year through its survey website, www.AdvisorBenchmarking.com, the firm conducts multiple surveys of advisors, covering a host of business management and investment management practices. The findings and analysis of the data are then released to the marketplace as annual studies, quarterly research notes, monthly newsletters, and a confidence index. The service is aimed at helping advisors grow and enhance their firms by comparing how their businesses fare against other advisors. Advisors also learn best practices of the most successful advisors in the business. AdvisorBenchmarking is an affiliate of Rydex|SGI.
