Indian investors most optimistic in Asia: Survey

Soaring inflation and market volatility notwithstanding, Indian investors have emerged most optimistic in Asia and many of them believe the economy has improved in the second quarter of 2008, says a survey.

According to a survey conducted by Dutch financial services major ING, 76 per cent of Indian investors believe the economy would improve in the third quarter while 71 per cent felt that economy had improved in the second quarter.

"Despite market volatilities, rising oil prices and inflation, the ING Investor Dashboard Sentiment Index for India continues to reflect highest level of investor optimism across Asia. ...A lot more investors claim that the economy has improved in the last quarter," the survey conducted in association with research and analysis provider TNS said.

India's investor sentiment slipped three per cent to 163 for the second quarter from the first quarter of 2008.

In Asia Pacific region, India is followed by Hong Kong (123) and China (117) at the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

About 72 per cent investors expect return on investment to increase in Q3 compared to 63 per cent who think the return had increased in Q2. Nearly 68 per cent respondents in India expect their personal financial situation to improve in Q3.

"Overall investor sentiment in Asia falls 13 per cent for Q2 from Q1 in 2008 as global economic slowdown continues and regional political developments weigh on investors," it said.

Indian and other Asian investors seem to be "fairly optimistic" that markets would turn around in third quarter.

"...The one thing going for India is that absolute growth rate of 7-8 per cent is still a great number, compared to the global average of about 4 per cent,...We may be slowing down slightly, economy is still expected to remain healthy," ING Investment Management India MD and CEO Vineet K Vohra said.