Matthew Greenwald, Market Researcher and Bill Cheney, Economist
Quarterly Index Report Shows Investors’ Sentiments Up Sharply in the First Quarter of 2012 www.johnhancock.com
Radio Interviews Available with Matthew Greenwald, Market Researcher and Bill Cheney, Economist
Gas prices have risen dramatically and unemployment is still holding at an 8% rate, but investors seem to be in general agreement that the economy is poised for a comeback. In a time where so many people are still being affected by the recession, investors are more optimistic than ever about market growth, particularly in terms of stocks, retirement funds and balanced mutual funds.
According to the Investor Sentiment Index, a quarterly measure of investors’ views on a range of investment choices, life goals and economic outlook, investors are in sync with economic indicators suggesting that the internal dynamics of the U.S. economy are solid. A contributing factor to this was the rise of the Dow Jones Industrial Average above the 13,000 point mark in late February –
the first time it had closed on that level in nearly four years. That result, along with the belief that many investors are financially better off than they were two years ago, is helping to drive investors’ positive outlook that our economy is turning itself around.
In interviews on Tuesday, April 3rd, Mathew Greenwald, market researcher who performed the survey, and Bill Cheney, chief economist from John Hancock, are available to talk to your listeners about the index findings and what they mean for the economy as a whole. They’ll also discuss:
• Why right now is the best time to invest in certain stocks and mutual funds, and which ones you should consider
• Lagging concerns they still have on healthcare costs, the national debt and inflation
• Why they believe unemployment will start decreasing
• What do the rising gas prices mean if the economy is poised to start getting better
About the Talent:
Bill Cheney directs economic research for John Hancock Financial Services, the U.S. division of Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corporation. Based in Boston, he forecasts macro-economic and financial trends and analyzes the potential impact on the company’s individual business lines and investments. Cheney is a member of the National Association of Business Economists. Mathew Greenwald is the President of Mathew Greenwald & Associates, a market research firm, founded in 1985, which specializes in retirement and financial services issues.
