More than half (58 per cent) of wealthy investors surveyed by Credit Suisse Private Banking USA said they have become less aggressive with their overall investments over the past two years.

The private bank polled investors who attended its fifth annual Wealth Management Conference in New York City last week. More than 250 ultra high and high net worth investors – entrepreneurs, executives and families – attended the conference, which focused on the theme “New Realities, New Responses.”

The poll also found:  

- Fifty three per cent said they would focus their investments over the next 12 months on emerging markets over US (27 per cent), Europe (1 per cent), environment-related (9 per cent) and technology-related (11 per cent) investments.

- Eighty eight per cent named employment as the most important issue in the elections, ahead of the budget deficit (9 per cent), regulatory reform (3 per cent) and Afghanistan (0 per cent).

- Sixty six per cent think their personal financial situation will be better a year from now versus 32 per cent the same and 2 per cent worse.

- Sixty two per cent believe a double-dip recession is unlikely compared with 24 per cent who think it is likely and 15 per cent who don’t know.

- Forty eight per cent say the US economy will improve in the next 12 months, while 41 per cent think it will stay the same and 11 per cent think it will get worse.  

- Fifty six per cent think increased regulation in financial services is negative, 30 per cent feel it is positive and 13 per cent feel it will have no effect. 

- Sixty nine per cent think increased regulation in healthcare is negative, while 24 per cent feel it is positive and 6 per cent feel it will have no effect.