Investors eyeing Asia and emerging markets for 2010 - F&C

Stock markets in Asia and across the emerging economies will be the stand-out performers next year, research by F&C Investments suggests.

In its November online poll, two-thirds of investors back Asia and the emerging markets in 2010.

Nearly 42% of respondents pinpointed Asia as next year's big-hitting region, while 25% backed emerging markets.

There is less enthusiasm for developed markets, with a gulf in sentiment emerging between the prospects for the UK and continental Europe.

Whilst only 5% back the UK to offer the best investment prospects next year, nearly 12% are betting on Europe to provide the best returns.

The US, which only 1.7% of respondents favour, fared even worse while Japan - with only 6.7% of votes - also lacks prominence on investors' radar.

Mike Woodward, head of investment trusts at F&C Investments, says: "With the West having suffered so badly in economic terms over the past year and then recovered so well in stock market terms, it seems quite natural for our investors to favour markets where the economic growth prospects seem stronger.

"It will be interesting to see over the coming year whether our respondents' convictions are correct."

But despite seeing a recovery in stock markets recently, investors expect future growth in the developed world to be muted.

"Notwithstanding the risks of a market correction, the fundamental growth prospects for emerging markets remain stronger than the developed economies, where growth could be anaemic for some time," adds F&C's foreign and colonial investment trust Jeremy Tigue.

However, Tigue cautions emerging markets command a premium to developed economies and that it may be harder for investors in 2010 and subsequent years to repeat the extremely high level returns seen recently.

Which market do you believe has the most investment potential over the next 12 months?

UK 5.0%
US 1.7%
Europe 11.7%
Japan 6.7%
Asia 41.7%
Emerging Markets 25.0%
Property 5.0%
Private Equity 3.3%