The strong start to the year has fueled optimism among Finnish banks about the continued growth of the stock market. Stocks worldwide have seen significant gains in the beginning of the year, with one of the key factors being the anticipation of central banks cutting interest rates due to slowing inflation. The rise in stock prices is also attributed to artificial intelligence playing a role in market trends.
Despite some tension created by the upcoming results season in April, experts believe that the positive outlook for company profits, particularly in the United States, may lead to further increases in stock prices. The MSCI index has already seen a 7.7 percent increase at the beginning of the year, signaling a strong start for the market.
However, not all regions are experiencing growth at an equal pace. The Helsinki Stock Exchange index has experienced a slight decline, as many Finnish companies are impacted by the slow economic growth in the euro area. Nevertheless, experts like Antti Saari from Nordea and Kaisa Kivipelto from Danske Bank remain optimistic about overall growth, especially in regions like Japan where economic growth has been strong.
The slowdown in inflation has also contributed to this positive economic outlook, allowing central banks to consider cutting interest rates to stimulate growth. This could benefit the stock market as lower interest rates typically lead to increased consumer spending and investments. Overall, despite some challenges and regional differences, prospects for continued growth in
