As worries about Greece and Spain ease, the overall confidence of institutional investors around the world rose in March, according to the Investor Confidence Index. Led by investors in Asia, the index, released Tuesday, March 30, by State Street Global Markets, rose 5.4 points, to 108, from February's revised reading.
Asian investor confidence had the biggest jump in March compared with other regions, rising 4.1 points, to 100.8, from February. In North America, confidence was muted, as the index measured an increase of 0.3, to 110.4, from the previous month. In Europe, confidence remained shaky as the index declined to 97.3 from February's reading of 99.8.
Harvard University professor Ken Froot, one of the developers of the index, said about March's index, "Now that concerns about the European periphery have been assuaged somewhat, investors are focused on the continuing improvement in the macroeconomic outlook, and what it implies for equity valuation."
