Forecast for world stock markets rose sharply among retail investors in the U.S., Japan, and China (Hong Kong)

TradeStation Group, Inc. ("TradeStation"), a Monex Group company whose main operating subsidiary provides award-winning*, self-clearing online brokerage services for trading stocks, ETPs, equities and index options, financial futures and futures options that aims to deliver the ultimate trading experience, announced the results of the 31st Monex Global Retail Investor Survey. The survey, which gauges customer sentiment based on answers to specific questions from an anonymous sampling of customers from Monex, Inc., TradeStation Securities, Inc., and Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Limited, showcases high expectations for U.S. stocks among retail investors in the U.S., Japan, and China (Hong Kong).

The forecast Diffusion Index (DI), which measures the percentage of respondents who answered, "will rise or improve'' minus the percentage of respondents who answered, "will fall or deteriorate," for the world's major stock markets, rose sharply among retail investors in all three regions (rising 62 points compared to the previous survey conducted in December 2022, resulting in a positive score of 38).

Respondents in all three regions believe the U.S. has the greatest likelihood of stock price appreciation in the coming three months. Specifically, more than 91% of U.S. survey respondents have positive expectations for the U.S. stock markets.

2024 survey outlook for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA):

• The highest percentage of survey respondents in Japan (52.7%) and the U.S. (48.6%) expect the 2024 DJIA high to be between 36,000 and 40,000.
• The highest number of respondents in Japan (44.4%) and China (Hong Kong) (41.8%) expect the low to be between 27,000 and 31,000, and in the U.S., 42.9% of respondents expect the low to fall between 31,000 and 35,000.

“In 2023, the U.S. in particular had solid economic growth as expectations for a soft landing in the economy pushed up stock prices, along with the end of the rising interest rate environment,” said John Bartleman, President and CEO of TradeStation. “Looking ahead in 2024, a recession seems increasingly unlikely, but economic growth is likely to decelerate in 2024 as the effects of monetary policy take a broader toll, and eyes will be on the upcoming U.S. presidential election."

About the Survey

The Monex Global Retail Investor Survey, covering random and anonymous retail clients in Japan, China (Hong Kong), and the U.S., was launched in June 2011 to gauge client sentiment surrounding market conditions. The 31st edition surveyed 2,313 respondents from Monex, Inc., TradeStation Securities, Inc., and Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Limited, between December 14 to December 18, 2023. The full report is available here: 2023 Monex Global Retail Investor Survey.

About Monex Group, Inc.

Monex Group, Inc., listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (security code: 8698), has grown to become a major online financial institution that operates online retail brokerages in Japan, the U.S., China (including Hong Kong), and Australia. In addition, Monex offers business services in international forex, asset management, investor education, and M&A advisory.

Monex Group aims to create a new type of financial group for a new era. At its core, Monex offers crypto asset banking operations and online brokerage services that link the world's financial markets by bringing together Coincheck's cryptocurrency trading, storage, and payment capabilities with the expertise and technology of our online brokerage operations in Japan, the U.S., China, and Australia.

About TradeStation Group, Inc.

Founded in 1982, TradeStation Group provides innovative fintech tools and is focused on delivering the ultimate trading experience to our clients. TradeStation provides award-winning* trading and analysis platforms and self-clearing online brokerage services for stocks, ETPs, equity and index options, commodity and financial futures, and futures options. These trading platforms are accessible on desktop, web, and mobile devices, as well as via API technologies that provide seamless access to TradeStation’s brokerage environment through third-party platforms. TradeStation’s offerings also include deep and growing learning content designed to hone the skills of seasoned traders. In 2022, TradeStation commissioned the Miami Bull, an 11-foot, 3,000-pound statue, presented in Miami to both honor the city and champion fintech technology.

TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC, NSCC, DTC, OCC, NFA & CME) is a subsidiary of TradeStation Group, Inc. that offers self-clearing equities, options, futures and futures options brokerage services as a licensed securities broker-dealer and futures commission merchant (FCM) and is a member of major equities and futures exchanges in the United States. TRADESTATION SECURITIES, INC. IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA’S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OVER UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. is a subsidiary of TradeStation Group, Inc. that offers self-clearing cryptocurrency brokerage services under federal and state money services business, money-transmitter and similar registrations and licenses. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. is not subject to NFA’s regulatory oversight and examinations.

* Visit TradeStation.com/Awards for more information.

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 privacy, 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 Japan's largest online financial services providers.

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