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How will growing concerns about a second wave of Covid-19 across much of Europe affect investor sentiment? Looking back on the turmoil in financial markets in March and April at the height of the pandemic in the West, there is every reason to be anxious. So far, however, markets have proved resilient. European markets rose during the early part of September, though concern about tech stock valuations hit US equities. Investors are not panicking.

Research from Dianomi reveals a similar level of resoluteness amongst asset managers. In August, the tone of Covid-19 content published by 20 leading asset managers tracked by Dianomi remained much more positive than earlier in the year. The majority of articles in which asset managers referenced the virus expressed an upbeat sentiment. Throughout the spring, by contrast, such coverage was almost universally downbeat.

Asset managers are also striking a positive tone in their coverage of leading asset classes. Across equities, fixed income, real estate and commodities, the number of articles with a positive tone outnumbered negative articles last month, a reversal of the picture earlier in the year. Coverage of topics such as retirement planning also took a positive line, Dianomi’s analysis suggests.

In this regard, asset managers are not alone. As separate Dianomi analysis reveals, the sentiment of financial media has also turned optimistic in recent months, with almost two-thirds of online articles published in August taking a positive line.

Nevertheless, there are good reasons to be cautious. For one thing, the market environment does now seem to be one of elevated risk. Not only is the rising rate of Covid-19 infections a cause for alarm, but also, the uncertainties of the faltering Brexit negotiations and November’s US Presidential elections are clouds that now seem to be darkening. Nervousness about the potential for a technology sector correction to hit markets more broadly adds to the sense of unease.

In such a climate, investors will need support and advice on how to continue focusing on their financial objectives while simultaneously remaining mindful of increasing risk. Asset managers’ positive tone in recent weeks is understandable given the progress many countries have made in confronting Covid-19 since the spring – and the relative stability on markets – but any perception that coverage is slipping into blind positive would be damaging.

Content, of course, is just as important as tone. It is interesting to note that the proportion of asset managers’ online content devoted to equities fell slightly during August, from 17% to 16%. By contrast, the managers tracked by Dianomi produced more content on fixed income assets.

The proportion of content focused on equities remains significantly higher than earlier in the year. However, increased coverage of less risky asset classes may make sense if investors are becoming more risk averse. Many will be thinking about about how to position their portfolios for the rest of the year.

This is not to suggest asset managers will want to move away from producing equities-related content in any kind of wholesale way. But there is likely to be increased demand for coverage that balances risk and opportunity – and offers investors a nuanced view of what lies ahead. Practical and actionable commentary will also be at a premium as investors ponder their next move.

Nor should asset managers overlook the potential value of alternative asset classes to investors at this time. The amount of coverage produced on commodities and real estate remains small in comparison to more mainstream assets. There will also be scope to publish more content on topics such as hedge funds and private equity as investors focus on diversification opportunities.

The bottom line is that investors who are focused on the long term, as well as the immediate outlook, will want to continue to take positive steps towards achieving their ultimate goals. But online financial content that is not tempered by a sense of realism given the current challenges may not provide the support they need.


Half of Investors Say Their Portfolios Took A 10-20% Hit and Believe It Will Take 12 Months to 2.5 Years to Regain Losses

New York, NY – June 16, 2020 – New research from Dianomi, the premium native advertising platform for the world’s best-known financial publishers and brands, reveals that a majority of approximately 8,300 investors surveyed expect to see a sustained stock market recovery — a U-shaped recovery rather than a more dramatic V-shaped resurgence –and anticipate a gradual return to growth in the wake of COVID-19. In addition, almost two-thirds of investors (64%) believe the bounce backs have come too quickly and 69% think there is more hardship on the horizon.

In addition, in a companion poll, Dianomi found that 51% of investors have lost between 10%-20% of their portfolios over the COVID-19 crisis and about half — 48% —  believe it will take 12 months to 2.5 years to regain portfolio losses.

“The only thing certain in this marketplace is that both private and institutional investors are uncertain about the future,” said Rupert Hodson, CEO and Co-Founder of Dianomi. “They’re demonstrating an appetite for financial news and seeking out information from established brands for reassurance and strategies for future proof investments.”

In the Dianomi survey, private and professional investors in the US and UK weighed in on their current sentiments and future outlook and strategies for navigating the financial markets in the COVID-19 climate. Key findings include:

  • US investors are significantly gloomier than their peers in the UK, and that private investors are noticeably more downbeat than the institutional investors.
  • Almost half (43%) of US private investors are risk-averse versus 23% who are seeking more aggressive investment opportunities. The reverse is true with professional investors, with 27% of professional investors citing aversion to risk and 39% seeking risk.
  • Amongst private investors in the US, only 22% regard equities as offering good value, while 37% of professional investors are now on the look-out for valuation opportunities.
  • Only 22% and 25% of UK and US investors respectively say they are more likely to seek out professional financial advice amid the current market volatility.

Methodology

A total of 8,279 private and professional investors in the US and UK participated in Dianomi’s online survey conducted through its proprietary research arm, MarketViews concluding in May 2020. Its companion poll, also conducted via MarketViews, queried 850 private and professional investors May 28 to June 4, 2020 online.

About Dianomi

Dianomi is the native ad platform for the financial services, technology and corporate sectors, providing advertisers with access to a global audience of 200 million online consumers. Through our native display and video units, brands can target consumers contextually with content and product marketing messages on over 350 premium business and finance publishers. Advertisers and publishers trust Dianomi for our brand safety, transparent pricing and insights. Our emphasis on high-quality audiences combined with contextually relevant content helps partners achieve higher ROI than other native ad platforms. For more information, go to http://www.dianomi.com.