Investor confidence hits new highs

Overall investor confidence rose in the first quarter of 2007, up one point to a net 25%, the highest rating on record. This record level of investor confidence has built up over four consecutive quarters, from an historical low of just 9% in Q1 2006.

The rise in confidence was fuelled by an increase in people who expected their investment returns to be better than last year, up four points to 36%. This result was also offsetting a slight increase in people who thought their returns would be worse than last year, which was up two points to 10%.

Residential rental property remains the highest ranked asset class, up slightly to a net 21%; however this result is still some way short of its record high of 25% back in 2000.