BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
State Street Global Markets, the investment research and trading
arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT), released today the results
of the State Street Investor Confidence Index(R) for December 2006.
According to the December index, investor confidence increased by
5.2 to 87.4 from November's revised reading of 82.2. Looking
regionally, the confidence of North American institutional investors
rose strongly from 90.7 to 97.8. The confidence of European investors
rose from 90.2 to 99.1, while the confidence of Asian investors dipped
to 93.5 from 99.7 the previous month.
Developed through State Street Global Markets' research
partnership, State Street Associates, by Harvard University professor
Ken Froot and State Street Associates Director Paul O'Connell, the
State Street Investor Confidence Index(R) measures investor confidence
on a quantitative basis, analyzing actual buying and selling patterns
of institutional investors. The index is based on financial theory
that assigns precise meaning to changes in investor risk sentiment, or
the willingness of investors to hold proportionally more or less of
their portfolio in equities. The more of their portfolio that
institutional investors are willing to devote to equities, the greater
their risk appetite or confidence.
"Investors were in a more upbeat mood this month, as U.S.
policy-makers confirmed market expectations regarding U.S. growth and
inflation, and volatility remained at or near record lows," said
Froot. "Globally, investors increased their allocations to equities in
the U.S., Japan and a number of European markets."
"The strong trend upwards in European Investor Confidence remained
intact this month," added O'Connell. "Asian investor confidence,
however, took a pause after eight consecutive monthly increases, as
investors in that region reduced their allocations to a number of
equity markets, notably Australia."
Since its launch in September of 2003, the State Street Investor
Confidence Index(R) has become a key economic indicator for asset
owners, investment managers and central banks. As the only index
providing a quantitative measure tracking the common buying patterns
of institutional investors around the world, the State Street Investor
Confidence Index(R) offers a unique look into the investment behavior
and decisions of thousands of professional investors and their
investment decisions. Note that the regional indices have a different
base year than the Global Index.
About State Street Global Markets:
State Street Global Markets provides specialized investment
research and trading in foreign exchange, equities, fixed income and
derivatives. Its goal is to enhance and preserve portfolio values for
asset managers and asset owners. From its unique position at the
crossroads of the global markets, it creates and unlocks value for its
clients with original flow-based research, innovative portfolio
strategies, trade process optimization, and global connectivity across
multiple asset classes and markets.
State Street Global Markets' research team of leading academic and
industry experts is committed to continually advancing the science,
including theory and application of its proprietary investor behavior
research and innovative portfolio & risk management technologies to
help its clients challenge conventional thinking, shape ideas, make
more informed investment decisions and deliver measurable results.
About the State Street Investor Confidence Index(R):
The index is released globally at 10 a.m. Eastern time in Boston
on the second to last Tuesday of each month. More information on the
State Street Investor Confidence Index, including frequently asked
questions and a calendar of release dates, is available at
http://www.statestreet.com/investorconfidenceindex. The previous
month's calculations for the index are revised to account for trading
activity through the end of the reporting period.
About State Street:
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is the world's leading
specialist in providing institutional investors with investment
servicing, investment management and investment research and trading.
With $11.3 trillion in assets under custody and $1.6 trillion in
assets under management as of September 30, 2006, State Street
operates in 26 countries and more than 100 geographic markets
worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at
www.statestreet.com.
This news announcement contains forward-looking statements as
defined by United States securities laws, including statements about
the financial outlook and business environment. Those statements are
based on current expectations and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including those related to the pace at which State
Street adds new clients or at which existing clients use additional
services, the value of global and regional financial markets, the pace
of cross-border investment activity, changes in interest rates, the
pace of worldwide economic growth and rates of inflation, the extent
of volatility in currency markets, consolidations among clients and
competitors, State Street's business mix, the dynamics of markets
State Street serves, and State Street's success at integrating and
converting acquisitions into its business. Other important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by any forward-looking statements are set forth in State
Street's 2005 annual report and subsequent SEC filings. State Street
encourages investors to read the corporation's annual report,
particularly the section on factors that may affect financial results,
and its subsequent SEC filings for additional information with respect
to any forward-looking statements and prior to making any investment
decision. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release speak only as of the date hereof, December 19, 2006, and the
company will not undertake efforts to revise those forward-looking
statements to reflect events after this date.
Source: State Street Corporation
Contact: State Street Corporation
Carolyn Cichon, 617-664-8672