Aussie investors keen on overseas assets


More Australian investors are keen to increase their exposure to overseas assets this year compared to the same time last year, according to the Certitude Global Investing Index (CGIII).
Appetite for global investments was up by 11 per cent (from 157 to 175), and is now at the 12 month average.
Investors seem more optimistic about global markets, with concern levels falling to 5.6 out of 10, down from 6.4 last year.
CEO of Certitude Global Investment Craig Mowll said despite volatility in the monthly figures of those intending to increase exposure to international shares, it still showed Australians are looking overseas for returns.
Intention to increase exposure to international shares reached as high as 25 per cent and shrunk to as low as 16 per cent.
Investors were slightly less bullish on international equities outlook this year, with only 16 per cent intending to increase their exposure compared to 17 per cent last year.
But fewer investors are looking to lower their exposure (2 per cent compared with 5 per cent).
The report also showed there is increasing appetite for international shares among Australians.
It showed a bridge in the gap between the net proportion of investors thinking of investing in Australian shares (24 per cent, down five percentage points), compared to those thinking of investing in international shares (14 per cent, up two percentage points).
"The most common barrier cited by investors for not investing overseas was a lack of knowledge, with 25 per cent saying they didn't know enough about it," Mowll said.
"At end June 2013, over 30 per cent of investors cited market volatility as the most common barrier to investment, now only one year later that has reduced to only 20 per cent."
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