LIVE MARKETS-Individual investors remain deeply pessimistic on stocks - AAII

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INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS REMAIN DEEPLY PESSIMISTIC ON STOCKS - AAII

Pessimism among individual investors about the short-term outlook for the U.S. stock market rose in the latest American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) Sentiment Survey. With this, optimism also gained, while neutral sentiment decreased.

Meanwhile, just over a third of investors surveyed believe that recently rising oil prices will have a "significant negative impact" on the economy.

AAII reported that bearish sentiment, or expectations that stock prices will fall over the next six months, added 1.6 percentage points to 51.4%. Bearish sentiment is "unusually high" and is above its historical average of 31.0% for the eighth straight week.

Bullish sentiment, or expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, gained 1.5 percentage points to 33.6%. Bullish sentiment is below its historical average of 37.5% for the seventh consecutive week.

Neutral sentiment, or expectations that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, fell 3.1 percentage points to 15.0%. Neutral sentiment is "unusually low" and is below its historical average of 31.5% for the 89th time in 91 weeks.

The bull-bear spread slipped 0.2 percentage points to –17.9% from –17.7% last week. The bull-bear spread is "unusually low" and is below its historical average of 6.5% for the eighth consecutive week.

In this week's special question, AAII asked its members how oil prices are affecting their perception of the economy.

Here is AAII's graphic showing how they responded.

(Terence Gabriel)

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