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AS CARLY SIMON USED TO SING …

By Arthur Chalekian GEPC

[Financial Consultant]

However, that doesn’t stop anyone from making educated guesses about the future of companies, financial markets, and economies.

So, as we enter the second quarter, investment and business professionals have been offering their insights:

• McKinsey & Company’s March Economic Conditions Snapshot indicated 80 percent of surveyed executives “… expect demand for their companies’ products and services will grow or stay the same in the coming months, and a majority believe (as they have in every survey since 2011) their companies’ profits will increase.” However, they are not as optimistic about the global economy as they were in December. About one-half of executives in developed and emerging markets said economic conditions globally are worse than they were six months ago

• The Wall Street Journal’s April 2016 Economic Forecasting Survey, which queries 60 economists, reported three-of-four survey participants expect a Fed rate hike in June. Few expect a recession during the next 12 months, putting the odds at 19 percent. Almost one-half stated global risks were the greatest threat to the U.S. economy, followed by financial conditions, a slowdown in consumer spending, falling corporate profits, and U.S. politics.

• PIMCO’s Cyclical Outlook predicts China’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth may be in the 5.5 to 6.5 percent range. The target is 6.5 percent. In addition, a gradual devaluation of the yuan is possible, although China’s currency policy often produces unexpected twists and turns.

• BlackRock Investment Institute’s second quarter outlook centered on three themes. First, returns are likely to remain muted in the future. Second, monetary policies appear to be less divergent, which could be a positive for some markets. Third, volatility may persist as the Federal Reserve normalizes monetary policy. Diversity and careful asset selection are likely to be critical in this environment.

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Conclusion

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While it’s interesting to read experts’ predictions and expectations for coming months and years, it’s important to remember forecasts are not always accurate. An organization that tracked forecasting results through 2012 found forecasts were correct about 47 percent of the time.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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• Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
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• Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

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Filed under: Investing, Recommended Books | Tagged: Arthur Chalekian, BlackRock, Fed rate hike, McKinsey & Company, monetary policies, PIMCO, US economy, Wall Street Journal | 13 Comments »