More Investors Start To Look East

Times Online:

While share prices are zooming up and down in irrational zigzags, investors are happily proving more resourceful than ever before at seeking out more promising prospects.

The latest confidence survey from broker TD Waterhouse shows that seasoned players think Asian markets will do best over the next 12 months – but many are not quite ready to act on their beliefs.

According to the survey, one in 3 tip Asia, but still prefer to buy European and US shares.

The startling point is that nearly a third have invested abroad in the past year. While that is doubtless prompted by fear of the difficult outlook in the UK, it shows that investors are prepared to diversify.

But whereas in former downturns diversification would have led to a boom in wild and wacky collectibles, foreign stock markets no longer hold the terror they once did.

People who are happy to buy books, holidays and a growing list of other items on the internet are now confident enough to build and monitor a foreign share portfolio on their computer. Full article.