Investor sentiment for the near future bucked a previous downward trend with a drastic rebound this month due to a stabilizing political situation following the recent local elections, according to a survey released yesterday.
The investor sentiment index soared by 95.1 percentage points to minus 14.3, bolstered by respondents' enhanced confidence in the stock market in the next three months, said the survey prepared by the Chinese-language weekly Business Today and the finance department of Shih Hsin University.
The poll interviewed 1,125 investors between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23 about their prospects for the next three to six months.
The two supporting indices -- investor confidence and economic sentiment -- both climbed drastically.
The investor confidence subindex rose to 3.3 points from the previous minus 40.8 as respondents expressed optimism that they could meet their stock investment goals within the next three months.
These polled investors were also more bullish that their income within the next year will surpass the current level.
As for the economic sentiment subindex, respondents foresaw a rosier future when asked about their outlook for economic growth over the next six months and unemployment and stock performance within the next quarter.
In particular, optimism toward the local bourse for the next three months leapt from minus 60.5 points to 18.8.
The weekly contributed these positive changes to a clearer political climate after the opposition pan-blue camp secured an overwhelming victory in the local elections earlier this month
It said this had helped to strengthen foreign investor confidence in Taiwan and stabilize the nation's relations with China.
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