Legg Mason’s fifth annual Global Investment Survey polled over 15,000 investors from across the world.

US investors are among the world's most upbeat when it comes to their outlook on future returns, despite brewing political tensions between President Donald Trump's administration and North Korea, new data shows. 

Almost half (46 per cent) of US investors are “somewhat optimistic” about their returns on investments, and 34 per cent are “very optimistic” about the same prospect, according to a survey by Legg Mason Global Asset Management. 

The bullish outlook among US investors has been reported as friction between the US and North Korea continues to build, with President Trump seeking sanctions against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un threatening to cause “great pain and suffering” in response. 

Meanwhile, UK investors are among Europe's most optimistic, the data shows, shrugging off Brexit and concerns about the long-term effect of record-low interest rates. Half of UK investors are “somewhat optimistic” about the returns their investments could achieve over the next year, while a further 13 per cent are “very optimistic”. 

But Swedish investors come up trumps in Europe, as 62 per cent are “somewhat optimistic” about future yields.

Nearly half, or 46 per cent, of investors say Britain's divorce from the European Union could impact the performance of their investments. Only ongoing worries over low interest rates topped Brexit, with 52 per cent citing this as a concern. 

“While there has been an understandable focus on the impact of Brexit, the truly global nature of investment markets – particularly the FTSE 100 – means investors can continue to make returns irrespective of the domestic outlook,” said Justin Ede, head of Europe and Americas distribution at Legg Mason. “As such, it is perhaps unsurprising that such a positive attitude has prevailed into 2017, especially following the gains seen the previous year across some asset classes.”