Obama Viewed Favorably by 53% of Investors as Economy Improves

[Godhumor]

Source: Bloomberg

President Barack Obama is gaining popularity among investors as he pivots to promoting U.S. global competitiveness in the State of the Union Address he delivers tonight.

Fifty-three percent of investors now view him favorably, up from 49 percent in November, reversing a yearlong deterioration in perceptions of the U.S. president, according to a quarterly poll of 1,000 Bloomberg customers who are investors, traders or analysts conducted Jan. 20-24. The turnaround follows Obama’s conclusion of a free-trade agreement with South Korea and a lame-duck legislative deal to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy.

...

U.S. investors and their foreign counterparts continue to hold divergent views of Obama, as they have since the quarterly poll began in July 2009. While 56 percent of U.S. investors say they are pessimistic about the administration’s impact on the investment climate, that is an improvement from November, when 68 percent said they were pessimistic.

Obama’s personal popularity has dropped slightly among U.S. investors, with 64 percent viewing him unfavorably, compared with 62 percent in November. Among European investors, 66 percent view him favorably, up from 60 percent in November; among Asian investors, 58 percent hold positive views, up from 56 percent.



Read more: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aHZHEaQRZgTo

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More in the article about the breakdown on Republicans (US investors like them international investors don't) and beliefs of where the US is headed.

[Myrina]

1. The Investor Class likes him, the rest of us are still sinking.

Gee, thanks, POTUS.

[Safetykitten]

2. This "economy improving" blatant lie needs to stop.

[Godhumor]

3. Every single measurable sign points to recovery

The "blatant lie" is not going anywhere.

[Safetykitten]

5. Prove it then.

[Godhumor]

6. Leading indicators, spending, exports, manufacturing increases, real income, etc.

All are tracking upward and have been for some time. Even employment, which is a lagging factor, is improving.

Feel free to look any of them up.

Here's 4 charts to get you started (Track the green line. Again note that unemployment lags by approx 6 months)

http://research.stlouisfed.org/economy/us/

[Safetykitten]

7. Yes. this is party in the streets news.

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded for the fourth straight month, according to the Richmond Fed's latest survey. Looking at the main components of the overall index, shipments and new orders grew more slowly, while employment growth held steady. Other indicators varied but suggested continued solid activity. Manufacturers reported that backlogs grew at a slightly slower pace and that increases in capacity utilization and delivery times eased somewhat, while finished goods inventories grew at a somewhat slower rate.

Looking forward, manufacturers' optimism remained in place in January. Survey contacts at more firms looked for steady growth in shipments, new orders, backlog of orders, and capacity utilization in the next six months.

Survey measures of current prices revealed that prices of raw materials grew at a slightly quicker pace in January, while finished goods prices were little changed. Respondents indicated that during the next six months they expected somewhat slower growth in both raw materials and finished goods prices from what they had anticipated last month.

[Godhumor]

14. Um yes, that is positive news.

Expanded for the fourth straight month. And looking for steady growth in the next 6.

[Safetykitten]

8. Or this fabulous news...

U.S. Home Prices Keep Weakening as Eight Cities Reach New Lows

[Godhumor]

15. House prices are correcting to historical norms.

Check out the graph on the page you didn't link to, to see.

They will level off.

[Safetykitten]

9. And this chartbusting fabulousness...

Washington, DC – One in six older Americans lives below the federal poverty line, according to a new government analysis which almost doubles the number of very poor seniors compared to the standard estimate.

[Godhumor]

16. Lagging indicator

[Safetykitten]

19. Wow, pretty harsh there. Old people as a lagging indicator.

[Safetykitten]

10. Don't forget this tidbit of recovery....

A new report today from Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance shows distressed sales, that is bank-owned properties (REO's) and short sales, where the home is sold for less than the value of the mortgage, made up 47 percent of all home sales in December. That's up from 44.5 percent in November.

[Godhumor]

17. Yes, REO is a mess and will be for sometime

At least the next year as banks clear properties. Not arguing this one.

[Safetykitten]

11. And... cats sleeping with dogs in New York

Local GOP legislators sounded pretty giddy following Wednesday’s first “State of the State” address from Democrat Andrew Cuomo. That’s due to the newly sworn in governor’s liberal use of one word conservatives love to hear: cap.

“Listening to the governor today, I could have sworn he was a Republican,” said Senator Ken Lavalle (R-Port Jefferson), who began serving his 18th term in office this week, during a telephone interview Wednesday.

[Godhumor]

18. Absolutely nothing to do with anything recovery related

And I live in NY. Our gov't is awful.

[Safetykitten]

12. Sun belt happy news...

"Some city-funded wrecking crews could soon be tearing down vacant Chandler houses.

But the owners would have to ask for the demolition and agree to pay one-fourth the cost according to a proposal by Mayor Jay Tibshraeny that will go to a council vote Thursday. Property owners also must be current on their taxes and agree to maintain the parcel afterwards.

Tibshraeny said officials are looking for homes that are no longer habitable. “Chandler is transitioning from a growth to a maintenance mode,” Tibshraeny said. “With the city contributing to the demolition of these structures that lead to slum and blight, this will be a very positive influence on the city’s ability to better sustain neighborhoods,” he said."

[Godhumor]

20. Urban renewal as an example of non-progress?

OK...

[Safetykitten]

13. And from naysayers I say ignore them, as we are happy...

"Yale economist Robert Shiller argues that rising inequality in the US was a major cause of the recent crisis, and little is being done to address it."

[Godhumor]

21. Speculating on future collapses not the current recovery

So by my count you had one statement contradicting the reems of positive data that is available.

[ProudDad]

23. "real income" for whom?

Dismal bullshit...

[ixion]

24. I agree...

And this talk about "leading indicators" is hogwash. If you're a Wall St. scumbag, sure, things are great. If you're working for a living on Main St., not so much.


Prices are rising, wages are stagnant, or worse, the economy is still shedding jobs. and housing is taking a "double dip". We are in the midst of a depression, and the sooner people admit that, the sooner we can begin to dig our way out.

[somone]

4. "This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores.

Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."

[robcon]

22. I think the president's popularity will continue to rise.

His popularity among Democrats will continue to be strong, and among Repugs will continue to be weak. But his popularity among independents, the largest part of the electorate, is rising, and will continue to rise. He showed real leadership during the Tuscon event, and the SOTU will add to his favorable ratings among the most important electoral group - independents.

His re-eelction will be by a greater margin than it was in 2008.