European economy
Business Roundtable execs see brightening economyPosted by RJ and Makay on Mar 29, 2012 |
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American chief executives had a brightened perspective on the economy in the first quarter of 2012, and more of them plan to ramp up hiring and make more capital equipment investments, according to a recent Business Roundtable survey. 42% of executives are planning to add additional staff, and 48% expect to boost spending. Both numbers are a 16-point improvement from the prior quarter. 16% expect to reduce staff in the next six months.
European regulators will inform European banks in early March as to whether they support the banks’ plans to build up their balance sheets, officials said. Excluding Greek institutions, so far their plans are on track. Europe’s financial institutions need to raise a combined 115 billion euros by June to raise their core Tier 1 ratios to 9%.
Investors around the world have begun 2012 with a renewed sense of optimism and increased tolerance for investment risk, despite continued geopolitical concerns, according to a January BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers. The survey polled 214 institutional investors and found that only 3% believe the world’s economy will slow down in 2012, down from 27% in December.
