Investors cut exposure to shares as economic fears grow

Of course we have lost faith in bank managers and so called professional financial advice, over the last 50 years business and public sector ethics have become virtualy non existent and entire sectors of the economy are unable to accept that their value for money has been appalling, no one is doing anything to improve that situation. When are we going to see the banks recompense their customers and the taxayer for their complete lack of skill and care?

well said keith snell,now try writing to your MP about this,Tory or Liberal if you have one and see if you get any reply at all.Bet you dont !.

Keith is this just a rant or did you have something specific in mind when you talk about banks?

Financial advisers, fund managers and bankers are all in the bussiness to make a lot of money for themselves because irrespective of the state of the market they still impose same charges, bonuses already allocated and all hide behind the fact they have pointed out to their clients, not to rely on past performances and whatever goes up sometimes come down and finally one has to invest on a long time basis. Charges by finacial advisers and fund managers should looked at average earnings is in the region of £104000. p/a.

I agree with the above totally. While there are a lot of dedicated professionals out there, there are also many so called professionals that are being forced to sell the company product, or to recommend a product that is more beneficial to the company than the individual.

In this age of total commercialism, where the only important thing is the profit at the end of the financial year, what else can you expect?

This isn't to say you can't give good advice and be a good company person, as if the customer is satisfied with the service he recommends it all over. This is the way it should be. When, however there is little difference between companies, real or perceived, the result is a total lack of confidence.

Hell of a world we live in.

Short term confidence in a long term investment is low!

Long term confidence in a long term investment is high!

This sounds like the UK retail investor according to yet another pointless survey.

Retail investors have been shunning shares over the last year because prices are low and don't seem to be going anywhere. Don't worry. As soon as prices risen significantly from present levels the private investors will be back. They will then sell off again during some coming market slump.

This 'survey' appears to be confirmation that private investors think buying dear and selling cheap is the way to riches (either that or the punters have no money because they are trying to pay off previous three-week vacations on the Maldives paid for by credit card).

There are still some goodies out there, cheap but not paying dividends.

Some damaged and on the comeback trail, but a risk nevertheless. Well known names knocked by the recession. Yer makes yer choice and pays yer money.

I have some 'mad money' choices which I reckon will come good in a couple of years. If I am right, a return of 10 times+. Do your research and look at the prospects.

Well all of you cringing pessimists out their remember Buffets comments? be greedy when others are fearful and vice versa. I would also add do your own research if you can read a balance sheet and tell the so called whizz kids fund managers what to do with their so called expertise. Right now there are a few decent shares in the footsie which a private investor can buy at yields of 6% plus with strong free cash flows. Who needs to pay an "expert" 22 year old kid to advise them about this? not me thats for sure.

Thre will be much turbulence until the Nov / Dec gold rush. And the current turbumence is caused by the realisation that, busy deleveraging themselves and worried about their future, the end customer in all this is not spending - govts can waste their money (our money) ad provate business can invest if they want, no one is buying like before