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July 09, 2013 at 07:15 AM
Investors in the world’s largest economies are upbeat about their financial futures, according to new research.
This is among the key findings of second quarter investor sentiment surveys conducted by John Hancock Financial and the company’s parent, Manulife Financial Corp. Two surveys polled 5,500 investors in Asia, the United States and Canada about their financial priorities, progress towards financial goals and whether they expect their personal financial position to improve over the next two years.
The survey respondents were asked to rate each of six investment categories on a five-point scale, indicating whether they think it is a very good time to invest, a good time, neither a good nor a bad time, a bad time or a very bad time.
The second Manulife Investor Sentiment Survey in Asia produced an index score of +21. In Canada , the index score was +35. In the U.S., the score was +26.
“The surveys clearly indicate that investor sentiment is improving markedly,” said Manulife President and CEO Donald Guloien in a prepared statement. “Survey data from three of the largest economies in the world—the United States, China and Japan—as well as Canada and other nations indicate a very positive turn in outlook.”
In Asia, key drivers of the index were positive views of stocks (+15), mutual funds/unit trusts (+14) and real estate (+19). Sentiment was highest in Indonesia (with an individual index score of +60) and Malaysia (+48). The largest rise in sentiment occurred in Japan (from +4 to +21). Only one market, Hong Kong, strayed into negative sentiment (-11).
