A recent survey by Cathay Financial Holdings Co (國泰金控) found that individual investors’ enthusiasm index for the local stock market had rebounded to a new high since September last year.
The TAIEX closed down 28.83 points, or 0.36 percent, at 7,884.08 yesterday, stock exchange data showed.
The survey, conducted from Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, found that individual investors’ enthusiasm for the local bourse jumped from minus-18.3 last month to 13 this month, representing a new high since September last year.
The index for the period from September to this month showed a “smile” curve, with an index above five in September and nearly -minus-20 in October, November and last month, with a low at about minus-25 in December.
Investors’ preference for risk-weighted assets also improved, moving up from an average of -minus-22.6 to minus-5.2, -according to the survey.
Respondents to the survey rated each question on a scale of 100, with 100 indicating a very positive response and minus-100 signaling a very negative response.
In addition, 33.9 percent of those polled predicted that the TAIEX would bottom out somewhere between 6,500 and 7,000 points, down from 39.3 percent in October.
Cathay Financial said the latest survey showed that the public has gradually regained enthusiasm for the economy.
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