Top economists to predict economic outlook

Top economic experts will offer forecasts for 2000-2001 at an executive briefing on campus Friday, March 17.

Sponsored by the School of Business, presenters at “Economic Outlook: 2000-2001” will assess the current financial boom cycle, and make projections for various segments of the international, national and regional economies for the next two years.

The all-day event, a 26-year tradition at UW–Madison, will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Fluno Center for Executive Education at 601 University Ave. It is open to the public. Cost: $295.

Five experts will present business leaders with their insights on the trends affecting business and markets.

• Lou Holland, managing partner and chief investment officer, Holland Capital Management, president/CEO of HCM Investments Inc. and portfolio manager of Lou Holland Growth Fund, will discuss the outlook for the global economy, interest rates, inflation and the stock market. Holland is a frequent guest on “Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser,” and also appears frequently on the Financial News Network, the “MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour,” CNN “Moneyline,” CNBC, and “Chicago Tonight.”
• Lakshman Achuthan, managing director of the Economic Cycle Research Institute, will share his outlook for the U.S. and international economies. An expert on economic cycles, he has worked as an economist at Columbia University and ECRI, which is known for its research on leading economic indicators. He has spoken extensively at seminars and in the media about the cyclical approach to economic forecasting and has given many seminars on the subject to organizations including the Bank of England. He serves on the Economic Advisory Panel of New York City.
• John Rekenthaler, research director for Morningstar, Inc., will present his assessment of how rating processes affect investment markets and buyers. His Morningstar team is responsible for the company’s methodologies for analyzing mutual funds and common stocks. He has also worked as an investment strategist at John Nuveen & Co. and has written extensively about investment topics.
• Stephen Leach, director of currency research for Citibank’s Foreign Exchange Department in the U.S., will identify potential international shocks — countries with impending crises — and examine the potential for spillover into the international economy. Leach travels extensively from his New York base, advising clients on management of their foreign exchange exposures, especially emerging market currencies. Prior to joining Citibank in 1989, he was a managing consultant in Chemical Bank’s Foreign Exchange Advisory Service in London and New York.
• Don Nichols, professor of economics and public policy, and director of the La Follette Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy at UW–Madison, will conclude the program with a summary of the business, employment, and economic conditions in Wisconsin and the Midwest. Using industry and financial calculations, he will predict whether the state and region will lead or lag the national economy. A prolific writer and nationally recognized speaker, Nichols is known for his consistent record of accurate forecasting at Economic Outlook conferences.

Ample time is scheduled at “Economic Outlook: 2000-2001” for audience questions following the expert presentations. The $295 per person costs may be discounted for two or more people from the same organization. Organized by the business school’s Executive Education department, Economic Outlook conferences have been a valuable resource for over a quarter century. For more information, or to enroll, call (800) 348-8964 or visit: http://uwexeced.com