The April Index is currently at 26, down six points from 32 last month. In particular, the outlook for economic growth over the coming 12 months dampened, with 36% of private investors expressing pessimism in April, compared with 32% in March. Similarly, 34% of those surveyed voiced a lack of confidence in the outlook for stock market performance in the coming year, compared with 31% last month. However, on broader economic issues such as unemployment, investors were more optimistic, with 28% saying they were somewhat optimistic, compared with 23% in March.

London, 22 April 2002