Surveys
Investors Grow More Upbeat On Prospects For 2014, But Cut Risk Appetite - Global Survey
A survey of 11,113 investors around the world by Franklin Templeton shows that they are more optimistic for prospects this year but also reluctant to take riskier bets.
A survey of 11,113 investors around the world by Franklin Templeton shows that they are more optimistic for prospects this year but also reluctant to take riskier bets.
The 2014 Franklin Templeton Global Investor Sentiment Survey, conducted among 22 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe, showed that, five years after the onset of the 2008-2009 market downturn, investors continue to show signs of risk aversion, despite an optimistic outlook for the future, the survey found.
Globally, 52 per cent of investors are planning to become more conservative with their strategies this year, taking on less risk with the potential of earning lower returns. However, this risk aversion is less pronounced than last year when the annual survey showed that 57 per cent of investors planned to be more conservative with their investments.
The survey, conducted by ORC International, included responses from people in the following countries: Brazil, Chile and Mexico in Latin America; Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore in Asia Pacific; France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the UK in Europe, and the United States and Canada in North America.
Elsewhere, there has been a significant decrease in the number of investors who think precious metals will perform best both in 2014, and over the next 10 years, while there has been a significant increase in the number who think equities and property will perform best in 2014.
The percentage of respondents who think precious metals will perform best fell from 33 per cent in 2013 to 15 per cent in 2014, while the percentage which thinks equities and property will perform best rose from 21 per cent to 27 per cent.
Survey respondents were between the ages of 25 and 65 in Latin America, Asia Pacific and South Africa and 25 and older in Europe and North America. Respondents were required to own investable assets, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.
The survey was completed from 2 to 15 January, 2014, in all countries.
