U.S. bank CEOs say economic pessimism is lifting

(Reuters) – Companies and households are feeling better about the economy despite elevated uncertainty and recession predictions, the heads of top U.S. banks said Tuesday.

（路透社）——美国顶级银行的负责人周二表示，尽管不确定性和衰退预测增加，但公司和家庭对经济的感觉更好。

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon said sentiment among business leaders has improved. His counterpart at Bank of America Corp, Brian Moynihan, cited resilient consumer finances and spending as positive signs. But both leaders cited risks to the economy, including inflation, and said they would keep a lid on hiring this year to constrain costs.

高盛集团首席执行官大卫所罗门表示，商界领袖的情绪有所改善。他在美国银行的同行布赖恩·莫伊尼汉 (brian moynihan) 将弹性消费金融和支出列为积极信号。但两位领导人都提到了经济面临的风险，包括通货膨胀，并表示他们今年将限制招聘以控制成本。

“While its still very, very uncertain, the consensus has shifted to be a little bit more dovish in the CEO community that we can navigate through this in the United States, with a softer economic landing than what people would have expected six months ago,” Solomon told investors at a conference in Florida.

“虽然它仍然非常非常不确定，但首席执行官社区的共识已经转变为更加温和，我们可以在美国度过难关，经济着陆比人们六个月前预期的要软， ”所罗门在佛罗里达州的一次会议上告诉投资者。

At a separate event, Bank of Americas CEO reiterated what he has been saying for months – that consumer spending remains robust and is underpinning the economy.

在另一场活动中，美洲银行首席执行官重申了他几个月来一直在说的话——消费者支出依然强劲，正在支撑经济。

“Consumers remain very solid,” Moynihan told investors in New York. “Their balances are strong, their credit availability is strong, and the spending activity in January actually picked up a little bit.”

“消费者仍然非常稳固，”莫伊尼汉在纽约告诉投资者。 “他们的余额强劲，信贷供应充足，1 月份的支出活动实际上有所回升。”

Not all bank executives were so sanguine.

并非所有银行高管都如此乐观。

Wells Fargo & Co Chief Financial Officer Mike Santomassimo told the Florida conference that “things are going to continue to get a little worse” when asked about the potential for a recession. While consumer spending remains healthy, credit card delinquencies are increasing, and growth in Wells Fargos commercial bank is moderating, he said.

当被问及经济衰退的可能性时，富国银行首席财务官 mike santomassimo 在佛罗里达会议上表示，“情况将继续变得更糟”。他说，虽然消费者支出保持健康，但信用卡拖欠率正在增加，富国银行商业银行的增长正在放缓。

Despite some easing concern about an economic slowdown, the bank chiefs said they were managing headcount to constrain costs. Goldman cut about 3,200 staff, or 6% of its workforce, last month.

尽管对经济放缓的担忧有所缓解，但银行负责人表示，他们正在管理员工人数以限制成本。高盛上个月裁员约 3,200 人，占其员工总数的 6%。

“We are in a position to lower the headcount,” Solomon said. “Weve taken some action — we have a much tighter hiring plan in 2023,” which entails less hiring, he said.

“我们有能力裁员，”所罗门说。他说：“我们采取了一些行动——我们在 2023 年制定了更严格的招聘计划，”这需要减少招聘。

Bank of America will also manage its staffing through attrition. It aims to have a workforce of about 213,000 to 214,000 in the next three to four months, Moynihan said, down from 216,823 at the end of 2022.

美国银行还将通过自然减员来管理其人员配置。 moynihan 说，它的目标是在未来三到四个月内拥有约 213,000 至 214,000 名员工，低于 2022 年底的 216,823 人。