Managers expect FTSE to trade around 5,000 mark in 2009

PSigma Income's Bill Mott is the most optimistic of those surveyed, with a prediction of 5,500, although many refused to provide a prediction

High-profile fund managers have refused to give a FTSE 100 forecast for 2009 after wild predictions upwards of 7,400 last year. This time a year ago, eight managers tipped the FTSE would finish 2008 somewhere between 6,400 and 7,382, more than 3,000 points higher than the actual levels seen last month. The five managers willing to make predictions for next year still expect FTSE 100 growth in 2009, but the average is only around the 5,000 mark. However, there is a greater consensus among the respondents, with the gap between bulls and bears halving from almost 1,000 points last ye...