ONLINE share traders are an optimistic bunch, judging by the results of the inaugural Sanford Trading Activity Report.
The survey, undertaken by ACNielsen.consult, found that while only 39 per cent of share traders made money in the past three months, 66 per cent expected their shares to rise in the next quarter.
They also were confident stock pickers, with 16 per cent expecting their shares to rise by more than 5 per cent while only 6 per cent expected the All Ordinaries Index to match this rise.
(The survey was held prior to the US terrorist attacks.)
The Report examined the attitudes of Australian share traders, focusing mainly on online traders but also including clients of full-service and discount brokers.
Most respondents (74 per cent) said that making a capital gain was their main motivation for trading, with 31 per cent aiming to achieve the gains within a year.
Young, male traders using online brokers were much more likely to be seeking a short-term capital gain.
Shareholder benefit schemes were a major motivation for 13 per cent of respondents.
Ethical considerations were not significant. Only 1 per cent of the share traders said the main reason for their last trade was an ethical belief in what the company was doing.
Five per cent said ethical factors were a secondary reason for buying shares.