A brighter horizon for Singapore and UAE investors

Friends Provident International (FPI) has found that investor confidence in Singapore and the UAE is riding on a crest of optimism.

FPI’s Investor Attitudes report reveals that investors in the UAE experienced the biggest wave on wave increase in optimism recording a rise from six index points back in June 2010 to 18 index points this month. Singapore's investor attitude index, which began at 16, has risen to 21 points over the year as investors here continue to show positivity towards market conditions.

Such optimism was further underpinned by an upbeat outlook on the future, with 59% of investors in the UAE and 57% in Singapore predicting the investment markets would improve over the next six months.

FPI reports that Singapore maintained the highest Index score throughout the five waves and saw 61% of investors optimistic about the current state of the market, mirroring the country's economic growth of 8.3% in the first quarter of 2011.

Despite the political and civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, 70% of investors in the UAE said that they are either more positive or have an unchanged view about investing in the UAE, indicating the Emirates could be seen as a 'safe haven'.

Reflecting growing confidence in local markets, most asset classes in UAE and Singapore increased in popularity, with money and property seeing the biggest rises in the UAE, and collectables having the biggest hike in Singapore.  Gold remained the most popular asset class across both regions.

www.fpinternational.com.