TradeStation, a Monex Group company (Monex Group, Inc. is listed on
the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, code: 8698) and
award-winning* broker-dealer and futures commission merchant, today
announced the results of the “Monex Global Retail Investor Survey,
Vol. 23.” The survey found that U.S. investors who use the
TradeStation remain largely confident that the U.S. economy and
global equities markets will continue to perform well in 2017,
though their expectations have been somewhat tempered since the
beginning of the year.
Results of the recently conducted online survey show that nearly
halfway through 2017, U.S. investors’ perception of global equities
markets has diminished somewhat from six months earlier. Of U.S.
survey respondents, 41% said they expect global stocks to gain
ground in the next three months, down from 50% in December 2016 but
still significantly higher than the 26% who had such expectations
in June 2016. The percentage of those expecting global equities to
remain flat more than doubled, rising to 34% from 16% in December,
while the percentage of respondents expecting global equities
markets to decline over the next three months dropped to 25% from
34% in December.
When queried about their expectations for the U.S. equities
market over the next three months, U.S. investors remained bullish,
with 56% saying they expect U.S. stocks to outperform their
counterparts in Europe/U.K., Asia (excluding Japan) and Japan.
Twenty-nine percent expect Europe/UK stocks to outperform the U.S.
and other regional markets, roughly double the percentage of
respondents (14%) who chose Asia (excluding Japan). Investors’
expectations for their own trading activity over the next 12 months
remained solid, with fully 93% saying they expect their trading
volume to increase or stay the same in the coming year.
When questioned about the Federal Reserve and interest rates,
investors also expressed strong confidence that the central bank
will hike interest rates this summer. Nearly half (48%) expect the
Fed to raise rates at its June 2017 meeting, 18% expect a rate hike
in July and another 23% expect the Fed to take action in September.
Just 6% of respondents expect the Fed to hold off on rates until
2018 or later.
“The survey results suggest that after the uncertainty that
characterized much of 2016, U.S. investors have once again found
their footing,” said John Bartleman, President of TradeStation
Group, Inc. “At TradeStation, we’re not only focused on developing
trading tools and apps that position our clients to make the most
of improved market conditions, but also on giving them options –
like our simplified per-trade pricing – that are best suited to the
way they actually trade.”
In other survey results:
- When asked whether the perception of increasing geopolitical
risk (e.g., North Korean missile tests) had altered their
investment strategy, investors were largely unfazed, with just 13%
saying that such considerations had caused them to change
strategy.
- Likewise, controversy surrounding ongoing investigations of
alleged Russian collusion with the 2016 Trump presidential campaign
had virtually no influence on investors’ outlook, with just 6% of
survey respondents saying such concerns had caused them to alter
their strategy.
- Finally, when asked about their interest – and willingness to
invest – in virtual currency products such as bitcoins, a large of
majority of respondents said they either have no interest in
virtual currency (51%) or are not familiar with it (22%). Another
24% expressed interest in virtual currency but had not yet invested
in it; just 3% of survey respondents said they already have
invested in virtual currency.
Monex has been conducting its monthly retail investor survey
with its Japanese clients since October 2009. The “Monex Global
Retail Investor Survey,” covering retail clients in Japan, Hong
Kong and the U.S., was launched in June 2011. Please refer to
the full report for complete results.
The Monex Global Retail Investor Survey measures customer
sentiment based upon answers to specific questions received from a
random sampling of customers of Monex, Inc., TradeStation
Securities, Inc., and Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Ltd. Details of
the methodology used to conduct the survey are available upon
request. Accuracy and completeness of the data derived from the
survey is not guaranteed.
The information contained herein should not be construed as
investment research or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell
securities, securities derivatives or futures products or services.
Investor sentiment derived from the survey responses is no
guarantee of future performance or success.
Active trading regardless of asset class (equities, options,
futures) carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for
all investors. Relevant risk disclosures are available
at www.tradestation.com.
About Monex Group, Inc.
Monex Group Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange 1st section: 8698),
including its main subsidiary Monex Inc. (Tokyo, Oki Matsumoto,
Chairman and CEO), an online securities brokerage, provides
advanced and unique financial services to individual investors.
Monex Group has been a pioneer among Japanese online securities
brokers since the complete liberalization of commissions and fees
in stock brokerages in 1999. Monex relentlessly strives to offer
its customers in Japan innovative products and services and has
established its reputation as a unique independent financial
institution group. Its services cover M&A advisory, debt &
equity underwriting, asset management focusing on alternative
investments, investment education, and other investment banking
functions along with an online distribution network to more than
1.2 million individual investors in Japan.
Monex Group aims to globalize its customer base and businesses
in addition to enhancing its global product line and services.
Specifically, in recent years, Monex has embarked on an ambitious
plan to strengthen its products and services globally by focusing
its expansion efforts to date on the growing Chinese market, by
opening representative offices in Beijing and acquiring Boom
Securities (H.K.) Limited and its group companies in Hong Kong. As
a core element in the further expansion and global diversification
of its businesses, it has been seeking opportunities to expand into
the U.S. market, which it saw as the missing pillar in achieving a
truly global platform. The acquisition of TradeStation provides
Monex with an immediate expansion and strong commercial presence in
the U.S. online brokerage market.
About TradeStation Group, Inc.
TradeStation Group, Inc., through its principal operating
subsidiary, TradeStation Securities, Inc., offers the TradeStation
analysis and trading platform to the active trader and certain
institutional trader markets. The TradeStation platform offers
electronic order execution and enables clients to design, test,
optimize, monitor and automate their own custom equities, options
and futures trading strategies. TradeStation Group is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Monex Group, Inc., one of the largest online
financial services providers in Japan.
* Visit TradeStation.com/Awards for more information.
TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC, NSCC,
DTC, OCC & CME) is a licensed securities broker-dealer and a
registered futures commission merchant (FCM), and a member of the
major stock, options and futures exchanges in the United States.
The London-based subsidiary, TradeStation International Ltd (FCA
regulated), introduces UK and other European accounts to
TradeStation Securities, Inc. The company's technology subsidiary,
TradeStation Technologies, Inc., develops and offers strategy
trading software tools and subscription services, and hosts
the TradingApp® Store.
About Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Limited
Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Limited (“BOOM”) offers
multi-market and multi-currency online securities trading services
to investors all around the world. With BOOM’s proprietary
web-based trading platform, investors can trade equities in all
major exchanges and manage different major currencies via one
single account. Currently, it offers access to securities listed on
over 17 stock markets in 12 countries. In addition, BOOM also
develops trading solutions for other financial institutions.
Being the first company to launch Internet stock trading in
Asia/Pacific, BOOM introduced a new pattern of self-directed
cross-border investment by applying new technology to traditional
equities trading and financial services. BOOM aims to provide
retail investors with PRIVATE, EASE, SPEEDINESS and INEXPENSIVE
international stock trading services.
BOOM is a fully licensed Broker / Dealer regulated by the
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, founded in
1997 and headquartered in Hong Kong. It is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Monex Group, one of the largest online financial
services providers in Japan.
Media Contact:
Monex, Inc.
Yumi Matsuzaki
+81-3-4323-3800
TradeStation Securities, Inc.
Loren Lopez
+1-954-652-7011
llopez@tradestation.com
Monex Boom Securities (HK) Limited
Grace Chow
+852-22558880