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Rating Research Investor Confidence Index Indicates Individual Investors Remain Unenthusiastic Heading into 2003

Bedminster, N.J. (9 January 2003) - As they look towards 2003, investors voice little confidence or enthusiasm for investing their money in the stock market, according to the Investor Confidence Index, a tracking survey conducted by Rating Research LLC, a joint venture between The Ratrix Group and Opinion Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCI). Only 14% of investors say they are going into the new year with more confidence in investing their money in the stock market while a virtually equal number say they are “less confident” in investing in 2003 than they were in 2002.

Sixty-five percent of investors state they have about the same level of confidence in investing their money in the stock market this coming year as they did in 2002, dimming hopes of a return of the individual investor to the markets – at least in the early part of 2003.

These dispirited investors indicate a variety of reasons for their wariness, but for many of them it is a lack of faith in the ethics of major corporations coupled with a sense that efforts by the Federal Government are insufficient. As one investor noted: “I have seen too many things in 2002 like Enron. I don’t think the economy will pick up before 2004 or 2005. I simply don’t have much confidence in investing right now.” Additionally, concerns over future national or international crises lingers.

The Rating Research Investor Confidence Survey includes interviews with approximately 500 investors in separate waves in May, June, August, November and December 2002. The most recent wave was conducted December 12 – 15, 2002.

For additional information about Rating Research LLC’s Investor Confidence Index or its recently released Ethics Reputation Ratings contact Jane Barr.

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More details on the survey and methodology are available.