Pessimism

Households May Finally Be Adjusting to Higher Mortgage Rates

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024
Pessimism, Research report, OTCQB, Housing, FNMA, Optimism, Fannie Mae, Real estate

Thirty-four percent of consumers now believe that mortgage rates will go up over the next 12 months, up from 32 percent last month and more than the 29 percent who believe rates will decline.

Key Points: 
  • Thirty-four percent of consumers now believe that mortgage rates will go up over the next 12 months, up from 32 percent last month and more than the 29 percent who believe rates will decline.
  • However, consumers took a slightly more pessimistic view on the likely direction of mortgage rates, likely reflecting the fact that actual mortgage rates have moved upward since the start of the year.
  • Mortgage Rate Expectations: The percentage of respondents who say mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months decreased from 35% to 29%, while the percentage who expect mortgage rates to go up increased from 32% to 34%.
  • As a result, the net share of those who say mortgage rates will go down over the next 12 months decreased 8 percentage points month over month.

Corporate Compliance – Not Enforcement – Is Combatting Pervasive Corruption in Latin America, Miller & Chevalier Research Finds

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Finance, Homeland Security, Professional Services, Legal, Public Policy, Government, Organization, Corruption, Risk, International, Travel, Lawyer, M&A, Pessimism, FCPA, Drug

Corruption remains pervasive throughout Latin America despite sustained efforts to criminalize, investigate, and prosecute misconduct, according to new survey data.

Key Points: 
  • Corruption remains pervasive throughout Latin America despite sustained efforts to criminalize, investigate, and prosecute misconduct, according to new survey data.
  • In fact, corporate compliance – not enforcement – is the key driver for addressing these endemic issues.
  • The 2024 Latin America Corruption Survey , released today by Miller & Chevalier Chartered and 14 collaborating law firms in Latin America, measures perspectives on how corruption impacts companies' ability to do business in the region.
  • “Nonetheless, in the absence of consistent enforcement, executives in the region are confronting this pervasive problem.

CEO Optimism Increases for Organizations and Global Economy Despite Ongoing Geopolitical Uncertainty: Winter 2024 Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Synthetic media, Organization, Growth, Intelligence, Pessimism, Optimism, Generative, Management

The "Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey" monitors the viewpoints and strategies of CEOs representing some of the world's largest and most influential companies.

Key Points: 
  • The "Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey" monitors the viewpoints and strategies of CEOs representing some of the world's largest and most influential companies.
  • The winter 2024 survey reveals that most CEOs summarize 2023 as "challenging," a sentiment that has persisted as the top descriptor for four consecutive years.
  • Looking ahead, these CEOs express significantly heightened optimism regarding both their organizations and the global economy over the next 12 months.
  • CEO Outlook - Economy, Company, Industry CEOs exhibit growing optimism not only towards their organizations but also the global economy, marking a significant shift from fall 2023.

CFOs See North America's Economic Conditions Improving and Potential for Higher Productivity With GenAI Despite Concerns Over GenAI Skills: Deloitte CFO Signals™ Survey 1Q 2024

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 18, 2024
Synthetic media, Organization, Growth, CFO, Intelligence, Risk, Federal, CFOS, Thought, Pessimism, Federal Reserve, Public sector, Optimism, Marketing, Generative, Consultant

CFOs identified GenAI technical skills (65%) and GenAI fluency (53%) as two of the top three most significant concerns.

Key Points: 
  • CFOs identified GenAI technical skills (65%) and GenAI fluency (53%) as two of the top three most significant concerns.
  • CFO sentiment toward current conditions rose across three of the five economic regions tracked in this survey.
  • For the year ahead, 54% of CFOs expect economic conditions in North America to improve, up from 37% tracked the previous quarter.
  • The CFO Signals survey for the first quarter of 2024 was conducted between Feb. 5, 2024, and Feb. 20, 2024.

68% of women lack confidence in the economy, Achieve survey finds

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024
SAN, Pessimism, Female, Woman, Unemployment, Millennials, Risk

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While women have made strides toward financial equity, they still shoulder significant debt stress and are frequently concerned about the impact that the broader economy has on their financial stability. In addition, women are more likely than men to say they're unprepared for financial challenges that might come down the pike in the year ahead, according to the results of a new survey by Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance.

Key Points: 
  • A new survey by Achieve reveals women are more pessimistic than men about debt and finances and more apt to say they're unprepared to endure a financial hardship.
  • The survey, conducted by the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, asked both women and men about their current financial situations, key pain points and future goals.
  • Women were also more likely to think a recession is a possibility in 2024, with 34% predicting a recession, compared to just 28% of men.
  • However, 66% of women said they are not financially prepared to get laid off, compared to 54% of men.

OracleDC™ Challenges the Status Quo in Asset Management

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
SAN, Emotion, The Intelligent Investor, Pessimism, CFA, Harper (publisher), CEPA, Fear, Optimism, Intelligence, Retail

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of the recent S&P 500 highs, Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel Inc. ("Dunham") has introduced a new webpage for its flagship investment strategy, OracleDC™, showcasing how advisors and investors can discover the groundbreaking investing approach that seeks to navigate the complexities of market volatility without emotionally-driven distractions.

Key Points: 
  • OracleDC utilizes a proprietary algorithm named the "Dykmans Curve," developed by Ryan J. Dykmans, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of Dunham.
  • It aims to disrupt traditional investment approaches by Buying Fear and Selling Greed.
  • OracleDC was inspired by Warren Buffett's timeless advice, "Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful."
  • 1
    Buffett's own wisdom was influenced by the insights of Benjamin Graham, regarded as the "father of value investing.

Unlocking Gen Z Secrets: Vital Insights for Today's Marketers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Generation, Social media, Hope, Gen, Marketing, News, Pessimism, Nature, Generation Z, Optimism, Workforce, Complexity, Research, Internet

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Hoffman York, a leading full-service advertising agency, has unveiled the groundbreaking study, Gen Z Unraveled: A marketer's guide to understanding the misunderstood generation. This definitive guide offers an in-depth exploration of Generation Z—the influential cohort born between 1997 and 2012. Holding the position as the second-largest generation and wielding a substantial $360 billion in buying power, Gen Z stands as a formidable force shaping current and future market trends. By analyzing responses from a comprehensive survey of more than 1,300 individuals within this demographic, Hoffman York provides essential insights, enabling marketers to connect with and effectively engage this vital and dynamic segment of the consumer population.

Key Points: 
  • By analyzing responses from a comprehensive survey of more than 1,300 individuals within this demographic, Hoffman York provides essential insights, enabling marketers to connect with and effectively engage this vital and dynamic segment of the consumer population.
  • "Our research into Gen Z not only highlights the complexity and diversity of this generation, but also underscores their growing buying power and influence."
  • For marketers, these insights provide a pivotal guide to understanding a generation that is instrumental in shaping both current and future market trends."
  • Navigating the Complexity of Gen Z: Evolving Needs and Values
    Gen Z's journey from adolescence to adulthood encompasses a wide array of life stages, presenting unique challenges for marketers.

In the face of severe challenges, democracy is under stress – but still supported – across Latin America and the Caribbean

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Social media, Violence, Freedom, Democrat, Pessimism, Growth, Thought, Food, Authoritarianism, Government, Crime, Food security, COVID-19, Fear, Optimism, Democracy, Speech, Drug

Threats to economic and physical security have become persistent and pervasive across Latin America and the Caribbean – and that is affecting the way people view the state of democracy in the region.

Key Points: 
  • Threats to economic and physical security have become persistent and pervasive across Latin America and the Caribbean – and that is affecting the way people view the state of democracy in the region.
  • The 2023 round of AmericasBarometer, which includes nationally representative surveys of 39,074 individuals across 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, reveals widespread pessimism and adversity, decreased satisfaction with the status quo, and yet also resilience in popular support for democracy.

Elevated economic and physical insecurity

  • In brief, despite variation among different countries, the average resident of the region has been facing elevated economic and physical security challenges for over a decade, our surveys have found.
  • In the mid-2010s, a global economic commodity boom ended, and the region’s economic recovery has been thwarted by structural issues, including low productivity and high income inequality.
  • The uptick in crime and insecurity is similarly driven by a range of factors, including economic crises and the growth of well-armed transnational criminal syndicates.

Disillusionment is a challenge to democracy

  • Our results show that disillusionment with the democratic status quo is strikingly high in the region, with only 40% thinking democracy is working.
  • Although the root causes are debated, disillusionment with the status quo fuels support for populist leaders with autocratic tendencies.
  • El Salvador stands as an example of how disillusionment can undermine democracy.
  • He cheekily referred to himself on social media as a “dictator”, while his running mate spoke of their program to eliminate democracy.

Democracy retains popular support

  • Despite general gloom about how well democracy is performing, there is reason for optimism: Support for democratic governance has largely held steady over the last decade of our survey.
  • Across the region, on average, 58% say that they believe democracy is the best form of government.
  • In all but three countries – Guatemala, Honduras and Suriname – majorities say they prefer democracy.
  • For now, at least, an enduring belief in democracy may facilitate efforts by leaders in and outside the region to champion and strengthen democratic governance.
  • The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or any other funding agency.
  • Elizabeth J. Zechmeister co-directs the AmericasBarometer, which has been supported by grants from USAID, the US National Science Foundation, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

To make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, beneficial to all

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024
People's Daily, Statistics, Policy, Privacy, Growth, Transport, Pessimism, Weakness, Life expectancy, Face, GDP, International Monetary Fund, Poverty, Risk, Renewable energy

To grasp the development trend of economic globalization, it is important to start from the objective laws of historical development.

Key Points: 
  • To grasp the development trend of economic globalization, it is important to start from the objective laws of historical development.
  • The deepening development of economic globalization has provided a powerful impetus for the progress of human society.
  • Economic globalization should be beneficial to all, aligning with the universal aspirations of countries around the world, especially developing ones.
  • Looking ahead, economic globalization remains an inevitable path forward and an irreversible trend of the times for human society.

US Consumer Confidence Increased in January

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Expectation, Pessimism, Consumer confidence, Hits, The Conference Board, Employment, Consumer, Conference, Expected, Cryptocurrency

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® rose in January to 114.8 (1985=100), up from a revised 108.0 in December. The reading was the highest since December 2021, and marked the third straight monthly increase. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—surged to 161.3 (1985=100) from 147.2 last month. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—improved to 83.8 (1985=100) in January, up from a revised reading of 81.9 in December.

Key Points: 
  • "January's increase in consumer confidence likely reflected slower inflation, anticipation of lower interest rates ahead, and generally favorable employment conditions as companies continue to hoard labor," said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board.
  • Likewise, confidence improved for all incomes groups except the very top; only households earning $125,000+ saw a slight dip.
  • "Consumer expectations for the next six months increased slightly in January, due to receding pessimism around future business conditions, labor market, and income prospects.
  • The Conference Board publishes the Consumer Confidence Index® at 10 a.m.