Global fund managers do not see QE3 coming: survey

A majority of international fund managers believe that US Federal Reserve will not get into a third round of quantitative easing -- QE3 -- by pumping more money into the system to help revive the economy, a survey by Bank of America Merill Lynch (BofA) has found.

As sentiments improve, the desire for a third round of quantitative easing remains low. As much as 40% of respondents are not expecting a QE3, the monthly survey done in July said.

"Our question about QE3 this month shows that investors do not want policymakers to panic now," chief global equity strategist at BofA Merrill Lynch global research, Michael Hartnett, was quoted as saying.

However, a QE3 will be good news for India and other emerging markets, as it would stop the outflow of foreign funds; which has been on since the beginning of 2011 with the Western economies showing signs of revival.

While the two rounds of easings by the Fed had seen the system getting inundated with funds to the tune of nearly $2 trillion, most of these funds took flight to the  EMs for better returns, which led to major rebound in the EM equities.

The US Fed has resorted to two rounds of the unconventional step of quantitative easing by going in for purchase of treasury bonds. The second such round of $600 billion ended June 30 and speculation is rife that the Fed has no option but to go in for a QE3.

BoA-ML survey also says almost two-thirds of the fund managers polled identified the European sovereign debt crisis as the number one "tail risk" afflicting the world now.

Though there was no specific mention of Indian markets, the report says Japan and global emerging markets are the regions with the greatest positive sentiment at present.