NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 26, 2010) - Latin American equity markets, which sizzled in the second half of last year, have largely fizzled this year. MSCI's emerging-markets Latin America index gained 27.1 percent from July through December 2009, only to fall 1.1 percent year-to-date through July. A decline in worldwide demand for the region's all-important commodities and fears of a double-dip recession in the developed markets of Europe and the U.S. have been a drag on Latin American markets.
"Global uncertainties have taken center stage, especially concerns about the impact of a Chinese slowdown on commodity demand, sovereign stresses in Europe and recent signs of slower growth in the U.S.," observes Ben Laidler, New York-based head of Latin American equity research at J.P. Morgan.
All of these factors have driving demand for top-notch equity research. Two firms outpace all others when it comes to providing the kind of insight that money managers consider most useful: BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research and J.P. Morgan, which share top honors in the 2010 Latin America Research Team, Institutional Investor's 18th annual ranking of the region's best analyst teams. BofA jumps from third place to No. 1, while J.P. Morgan repeats in first place. The firms capture 14 total team positions each: BofA, one more than last year; J.P. Morgan, one fewer.
Two outfits tie for third place, with 12 positions each: Credit Suisse, which slips one notch after losing two positions, and Morgan Stanley -- the year's biggest gainer -- which leaps from No. 6 after picking up four positions. Rounding out the top five is Itaú Securities, which rises from seventh place and adds five positions, for a total of 11.
The complete list of winners can be found on our Web site, www.institutionalinvestor.com.
For more information about this ranking, please contact Alyssa Walker at awalker@iiresearchgroup.com or (212) 224-3677.
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Contact Information:
Contact:
Alyssa Walker
awalker@iiresearchgroup.com
(212) 224-3677