Investor sentiment takes positive turn

A measure of Irish investor sentiment has recorded its first positive outcome since it was launched in April 2010.

The RaboDirect Investor Barometer results for January showed that 55 per cent of respondents felt confident about the Irish economy over the next three months.

It also found that 64 per cent felt confident about the global outlook over the next three months.

The overall index now stands at 100.8, up from 86.9, with a figure between zero and 100 signalling negative territory and between 100 and 200 signalling positive sentiment. The 55 per cent finding in relation to confidence in the Irish economy compares with 37 per cent in September 2012.

Confidence in the global economy, at 64 per cent, has seen an even more marked rebound, up from 34 per cent in September 2012.

Despite this increased confidence, however, optimism among investors about their financial situation over the coming three months was down slightly, at 74 per cent, compared with 76 per cent who were optimistic in September.

Investors are becoming more favourably disposed to the global stock market, with 80 per cent saying they see value to be had in stocks compared with 72 per cent in September. The emerging markets remain the region most investors would consider investing in (42 per cent), followed by the US (20 per cent), Europe (19 per cent) and Asia (19 per cent).