The ASX has released the results of a Share Ownership Study conducted in November and December last year, providing some interesting insights into investor activity, confidence, processes and behaviour.
The survey indicates that 41% of adult Australians own shares, down from 55% in 2004. A focus on reducing debt, volatile market conditions and a gloomy economic outlook are cited as reasons for the decrease in share ownership.
Among the key stats and behavioural insights:
- retail investors have reduced the mean number of shares in their portfolios from 8 to 7
- the level of uncertainty in the market has increased, with more investors leaning towards the perceived safety of blue-chip shares
- 22% of retail investors expect to buy shares in the next 12 months, which indicates a sense of optimism
- the proportion of adult Australian men who are share owners has remained steady at 40%, however the proportion of women has declined from 37% to 30% in 2 years
- while the average value of trades has increased slightly from 2006, the average value invested has declined sharply
- 70% of direct investment share owners use online brokers to buy and sell shares
To read the full survey, click here to go to the ASX website.
