(February 10) – Canadians feel far more confident this winter investing in stocks, mutual funds and their own homes than just three months ago, according to the Manulife Investor Sentiment Index released today by Manulife Financial.
Worries about ringing in the new millennium prompted many Canadian investors to take a cautious approach late last year, but the index suggests they’re more enthusiastic now about all kinds of investing, said Trevor Matthews, Manulife’s Executive Vice President of Canadian Operations.
The index is based on a mid-January survey of more than 1,000 Canadians by The Gallup Organization. It monitors how Canadians feel about 10 different investment categories and vehicles. The index for each individual category or vehicle reflects the percentage of those surveyed who say it is a good or very good time to invest, minus the percentage who say it is a bad or very bad time to invest.
The overall index registered +30 in mid-January, up eight points from +22 in mid-September and returning to earlier levels (+30 in mid-June 1999, +32 in April).
Stocks, balanced funds and mutual funds all reached their highest index levels since Manulife launched its index survey in early 1999.