Credit Market Turmoil to Continue According to Financial Professionals

Financial professionals believe that the worst of the credit crunch is not over, according to a survey conducted yesterday at the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) Annual Conference being held in Boston.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of survey respondents indicated that they think the turmoil in the credit markets will continue for some time. As a result, more than half (53%) are more pessimistic about the state of the U.S. economy than they were six months ago.

"With responsibilities ranging from strategic planning to managing the flow of trillions of dollars through financial markets each day, AFP members must monitor both the credit markets and the impact these markets have on their organizations," said Jim Kaitz, president and CEO of the Association for Financial Professionals. "The survey points to more volatile credit markets that will present challenges to continued economic growth."

More than half (56%) of the survey respondents said that their company or organization already has been negatively impacted by the credit crunch resulting from the crisis in the sub-prime mortgage market. However, only one-quarter (28%) expect their organization's capital spending to decrease over the next year.

In addition, three-quarters (76%) of respondents expect the Federal Reserve to continue to lower interest rates before the end of 2007. Sixty-six (66%) percent expect a 25 basis point cut and ten (10%) percent expect at least a 50 basis point reduction in the Fed Funds rate.

Despite their concerns for the economy, half (52%) of respondents said they expected the recent credit turmoil to have little or no impact on their personal spending.

The survey was conducted at the AFP Annual Conference on Monday, October 22, 2007. Treasury and finance professionals from the United States and the world are gathered in Boston for the most important finance event of the year. The survey generated 768 responses from financial professionals including Treasurers, CFOs and directors of finance working for companies in a wide range of industries of varying sizes.