Majority of Investors in U.S. and Europe Have not Changed Risk-Taking
Sixty-one percent of respondents in the U.S. and 71% in Great Britain said the amount of risk they take has stayed the same. Seventy percent of respondents in France, 64% of respondents in Germany, 59% of those in Italy, and 58% of investors in Spain all said the same.
Twenty-nine percent of U.S. respondents and 20% of those in Great Britain say they are taking less risk, while 10% in the U.S. and 8% in Great Britain say they are willing to take more risk in their investing.
A majority in all countries also say they have not changed their investment choices in the last two years – 81% in Great Britain, 78% in Germany, 67% in Spain, 65% in France, 62% in the U.S., and 56% in Italy. However, 46% of U.S. respondents and 39% of those in Great Britain say they are less likely to invest in equities, as did a range of 41% to 54% of respondents from other countries.
The survey also found that 61% of U.S. and 69% of British adults with savings/investments would keep the amount of professional advice they seek the same if making an investment decision now, while 28% in the U.S. and 21% in Great Britain would seek more advice.
Less than a quarter of respondents from all countries said they think the government adequately protects investors.
The poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 4,419 adults aged 16-64 who have investments within France (824), Germany (701), Great Britain (821), Spain (639) and the United States (777), and adults aged 18-64 who have investments in Italy (657), between August 26 and September 2, 2009.