Investor Poll: Gloomy Outlook for World Economy

Expectations of a global slowdown are increasing according to this poll of investment fund mangers:

Investors: World economy looks dreary, Reuters: Investors are becoming increasingly gloomy about prospects for the world economy… Merrill Lynch … said its May poll of fund managers showed the most negative growth expectations since 2001 and indicated that a dramatic reassessment of investment strategy and economic views was under way. ... changes in investor thinking in the two months since its March survey had been "truly breathtaking." … said David Bowers, Merrill's chief global strategist. "We are now starting to see people position themselves for global growth disappointment." The poll of some 339 managers across the world … showed a clear majority of 56 percent now expecting global growth to weaken slightly or a lot over the next 12 months. … Meanwhile, although most investors still expect inflation to be higher over the next year, there were also signs that these expectations are easing.