Colorado business confidence remains positive going into first quarter, says CU Leeds School index
Jan 2nd
Colorado business leaders’ optimism is modest going into the first quarter of 2013 with uncertainty surrounding the country’s political and economic environments, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.
For the first quarter of 2013 the LBCI, conducted by the Leeds School’s Business Research Division, posted an overall confidence reading of 51.3, down slightly from 51.6 in the fourth quarter of 2012. A reading greater than the neutral mark of 50 indicates positive expectations and one less than 50 indicates negative expectations going forward
Business leaders are optimistic about all of the metrics of the quarterly index except for the national economy and industry hiring plans. The other categories measured include the state economy, industry sales, industry profits and capital expenditures.
“For months, drags on the national economy have included the European debt crisis, the slow rate of employment growth and the resolution of the federal debt crisis,” said economist Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the Business Research Division. “While Colorado business leaders have stronger confidence in the local economy than the national economy, they’re proceeding very cautiously.”
Confidence in the state economy, which is at 55.5 points for the first quarter of 2013, outstrips that of the national economy, which posted a reading of 47. The outpacing of confidence in Colorado’s economy compared to the national economy is a 30-quarter trend, based on LBCI results.
Business leaders’ sales expectations for the first quarter rose to 54.4, up from 53.2 last quarter, and are buoyed by 44.1 percent of LBCI respondents who anticipate an increase in the first quarter versus only 25.2 percent who predict a decline. Meanwhile, leaders’ profit expectations fell to 51.6, down from 52.2 for the last quarter of 2012.
Hiring expectations have slipped into negative territory at 49.3, down from 51 in the last quarter of 2012, while capital expenditures remain close to neutral at 50.1.
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No. 1 Broncos earn home field advantage in the playoff
Dec 31st
The Broncos knew the No. 1 seed was on the line. And they were ready. The defense forced Kansas City into a three-and-out. The offense cut through the Chiefs’ defense like a lawn mower.
Knowshon Moreno finished off a 69-yard drive by running the ball in for the 7-0 lead. Ryan Succup hit a 22-yard field goal for KC and the Broncos answered with back-to-back touchdowns from Peyton Manning to Eric Decker.
Payton Manning sets up for a pass against Kansas City
In the second half, Manning connected with Demaryius Thomas in the back of the end zone for a miraculous touchdown catch, Lance Ball rushed one over the goal line and Matt Prater tacked on a field goal to blowout Kansas City 38-3 and win their 11th straight game.
Denver finished the season 13-3 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, meaning the road to the Super Bowl goes through the Mile High City.
You could argue that the Chiefs, who have won only two games, weren’t trying too hard; they lost the game but won the right first pick in the draft due to their terrible season. No point in ruining that.
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Colorado Moves Up Three Spots To No. 20 In AP Poll
Dec 31st
BOULDER – The University of Colorado moved up three spots to No. 20 in the Associated Press Women’s Basketball Top 25 poll, released Monday.
Colorado received 224 votes – up from 156 last week – to make its third-straight appearance and highest ranking since coming in at No. 17 in the final AP poll of the 2003-04 season (March 15, 2004). The Buffaloes are 11-0 and one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I – all of which reside in the AP top 25 (No. 1 UConn, No. 3 Duke, No. 13 Oklahoma State).
Colorado received 224 votes – up from 156 last week – to make its third-straight appearance and highest ranking since coming in at No. 17 in the final AP poll of the 2003-04 season (March 15, 2004). The Buffaloes are 11-0 and one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I – all of which reside in the AP top 25 (No. 1 UConn, No. 3 Duke, No. 13 Oklahoma State).
The Buffaloes have a long history of rankings in the AP poll, dating back to the 1980-81 season. This week’s ranking marks the 161st time Colorado has appeared in the AP poll, trailing only Stanford, USC and UCLA among Pac-12 Conference schools. The current three-week run in the poll is the Buffaloes longest since a four-week stretch from Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 14, 2008.
The USA Today Sports Coaches poll is scheduled to be released on Tuesday. The Buffaloes haven’t been ranked in that poll since April 2004. CU received 34 votes from the coaches’ poll last week, sitting in the second spot of teams receiving votes outside the top 25.
Colorado will open Pac-12 Conference play this weekend with a pair of top-10 opponents coming to Boulder. The Buffaloes host defending league champion and current No. 4 ranked Stanford on Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. and then will welcome in No. 7 California on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 12 p.m.
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