Investor sentiment on the rise
Investor sentiment has improved but remains in negative territory, according to CoreData's Investor Confidence Index.
Investor confidence increased to -16.8 in the first quarter of 2012 - up from the lowest ever rating of -22.4 the previous quarter.
"This quarter marks the eighth consecutive quarter where the index has been negative, highlighting the prolonged effect of the global financial crisis on Australian investor confidence and their lack of confidence in the current global economic situation," the report said.
The survey also found that respondents who use a financial adviser are more likely to say they would withdraw money from an existing investment this quarter and are less likely to purchase a new investment product.
Cash remains the most popular asset class for investors to rebalance to, though the trend is slightly down.
"This suggests that while expectations for cash have become subdued, investors cannot see a viable alternative for investing their money," the report said.
Managed funds are again delivering the lowest levels of investor happiness, with 38.2 per cent of investors showing dissatisfaction and residential property proving to be a hit, the survey has shown.
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Ethical investment manager Australian Ethical has cited the ongoing challenging market environment for its modest decrease in assets over the latest quarter.
Commentators have said Australian fund managers are less knowledgeable compared with overseas peers when it comes to expanding their range with ETFs and underestimating the competition from passive strategies.
VanEck is to list two ETFs on the ASX next week, one investing in residential mortgage-backed securities and the other in Indian companies.
