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ISI Group logs a tenth straight appearance atop the roster. Led for a second year by Andrew Laperriere, 44, the Washington-based analysts "are incredibly comprehensive in what they cover," asserts one ally. "They look at all sides of the issues." One subject the four-member team has been following closely is the upcoming U.S. presidential election and its likely impact on the domestic economy. "President Obama’s weak, but not terrible, job-approval rating strongly suggests the race could go either way," Laperriere says. "But [Republican challenger Mitt] Romney has a slight edge because of the sluggish economy and the unpopularity of the president’s legislative accomplishments," such as health care reform. The researchers predict that Republicans will retain a majority in the House of Representatives and may prevail in the Senate. In the meantime, "Congress is unlikely to address the fiscal cliff before the election, and it’s a close call whether a short-term deal can be cobbled together before year’s end," he believes. Wall Street would cheer such a compromise, however, "as it would substantially reduce the risk of a fiscal catastrophe." |
Economics & Strategy – Washington Research: First
