Affluent Investors Gain Confidence; Investment Strategy Strong in Real Estate and Equities for 2011

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A new TNS survey shows a significant increase in confidence among affluent investors.  The TNS Investor Confidence Index rose to 116 in October, its highest level since hitting 129 in 2007.  The rise extends an upward trend from the mid-crisis low of 81 in October, 2008.  

Despite only modest economic and job growth, affluent investors were feeling more confident about how their own investments and the broader U.S. stock market will perform over the next six months.  

"This increase corresponds with substantial increases in the stock markets, with the Dow Jones, S&P and NASDAQ averages each rising 10% between August 26th and October 18th," noted Ellen Sills-Levy, Senior Vice President at TNS.

This higher confidence is reflected in affluent investors' investing plans.  Compared to earlier in the year, more affluent investors said they planned to invest more heavily in international investments (15%), commodities (11%) and real estate (10%).  But fixed rate investments still attract the greatest interest (19%).  

About the TNS Investor Confidence Index

The TNS Investor Confidence Index is a product of TNS' Affluent Market Research Program.  The index is a composite measure of confidence based on investor expectations for the next six months.  The most recent measure is based on a survey conducted online September 29th – October 25th, 2010.  The statistics cited here reflect the answers of 3,936 respondents who had total investable assets of $500,000 or more.  TNS' Affluent Market Research Program has been a leading source of market intelligence on the upscale investor and the savings/investment marketplace since 1981. 

About TNS

TNS, who recently merged with Research International, is the world's largest custom research agency delivering actionable insights and research-based business advice to its clients so they can make more effective business decisions.  TNS offers comprehensive industry knowledge within the Consumer, Technology, Finance, Automotive and Political & Social sectors, supported by a unique product offering that stretches across the entire range of marketing and business issues, specialising in product development & innovation, brand & communication, stakeholder management, retail & shopper, and qualitative research. Delivering best-in-class service across more than 70 countries, TNS is part of Kantar, the world's largest research, insight and consultancy network. Please visit www.tns-us.com for more information.

The Kantar Group

The Kantar Group is one of the world's largest research, insight and consultancy networks. By uniting the diverse talents of more than 20 specialist companies – including the recently-acquired TNS – the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and actionable insights for the global business community. Its 26,500 employees work across 80 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group's services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.  The Kantar Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WPP Group plc. For further information, please visit www.kantar.com.

SOURCE TNS