LIVE MARKETS-Optimism increases a little - AAII

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OPTIMISM INCREASES A LITTLE - AAII
Optimism among individual investors regarding the short-term outlook for stocks increased in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. And in the same week, ended on Wednesday June 25, neutral sentiment and pessimism decreased.
Bullish sentiment, or expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, increased 1.9 percentage points to 35.1%. Still, bullish sentiment is below its historical average of 37.5% for the 20th time in 21 weeks. It is above 30% for only the 12th time this year, according to AAII, the American Association of Individual Investors.
Neutral sentiment, or the view that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, decreased 0.7 percentage points to 24.7%. This kept neutral sentiment below its historical average of 31.5% for the 49th time in 51 weeks.
Bearish sentiment, or the expectation stock prices will fall over the next six months, decreased 1.1 percentage points to 40.3%. However, this still kept bearish sentiment above its historical average of 31.0%. It has now been above the average for 30 times in 32 weeks.
The bull-bear spread, which is measured by bullish minus bearish sentiment, rose 3.0 percentage points to –5.2%. So, this means that the bull-bear spread is now below its historical average of 6.5% for the 21st time in 23 weeks.

For this week’s special question, AAII members were asked what they think about the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged.
71.8% of respondents said it was the right move.
20.2% said they should have cut rates.
4.8% weren't sure or had no opinion
3.2% said they should have raised rates.
(Sinéad Carew)

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