Investors most exposed to equities since 2008
From News Feb 23 2012 BY: Esther Armstrong
, Senior Reporter
, Portfolio Adviser
Private investors have more money invested in the stock market than at any time in the past three and a half years, according to a survey by Lloyds TSB Private Banking.
The Investor Outlook survey revealed that despite continuing weak sentiment for the asset class and a lack of conviction about the fundamentals of the UK economy, many investors think stocks are good value following a sustained period of weakness.
"This suggests that many [investors] have become frustrated with real cash returns as savings rates remain low against a background of high inflation," the survey said.
Lloyds TSB Private Banking surveyed 1,000 private investors and found they now have on average £27,900 in equities, excluding their pension.
This represents an increase of £2,300 in the past year, from £25,686 in January 2011 and is despite the FTSE 100 having fallen over this time and thereby eroding their capital.
Investors have not had a greater exposure to the stock market since Lloyds TSB Private Banking started the bi-annual survey in July 2008, it said.
Confidence slowly improving
Confidence in equities has crept up, the firm continued, with 29% of investors saying they feel confident about the stock market over the next year, up from 25% in the previous survey conducted six months ago.
But many investors are still apprehensive about the stock market, and increasingly so, with 43% apprehensive about equities, up from 40% in July.
"The research shows sentiment is polarising with investors dividing more clearly along bullish or bearish lines and the bulls' increased stock market investments pushing the average up higher," Lloyds TSB Private Banking concluded.
Of those who were confident about the stock market, 51% said this was due to a belief equities are undervalued after a prolonged period of weakness, while only 42% said their confidence was born of a wider, positive market sentiment towards the asset class.
Ashish Misra, head of investments at the company, said: "Investor sentiment is near multi-year lows and equity valuations, especially in developed markets, are at attractive levels, particularly relative to fixed interest asset classes. Our analysis indicates the balance of probabilities certainly favours price appreciation more strongly now than this time last year."