A 58 per cent majority of investors globally are gearing up for a stock market rise this year, according to new research by New York-listed Franklin Templeton Investments.

Over half of investors worldwide expect 2015 to be a positive year for their local stock markets, according to Franklin Templeton’s Global Investor Sentiment Survey 2015.

Optimism was particularly ripe in the US and Canada, where 64 per cent of investors surveyed predict an upswing in local stocks this year. The picture was bleaker in Latin America, however, where only 46 per cent of investors expect a stock market rise, and the number of those expecting markets to fall has doubled since last year. 

Globally, stocks dominated the list of most favoured asset classes for the second year in a row. Investors in Hong Kong and Japan were the most optimistic, with four in five picking stocks as a top performer.

Real estate followed closely behind, with 52 per cent of global investors expecting it to outperform other asset classes in 2015.

Elsewhere, amid continuing concerns over Greece's debt lifeline, Greek investors showed the highest appetite for precious metals, at 61 per cent.

Over the past five years, the survey has identified a growing appetite for returns beyond the borders of investors' home countries. The largest portion of those eyeing opportunities overseas view the US and Canada as the best destination for equity investments this year. 

Over a 10-year horizon, Asia was deemed the most favourable region for both equity and fixed income investments.

Franklin Templeton's Global Investor Sentiment Survey took responses from 11,508 individuals across 23 countries.