sentix Survey Essentials (English)

Investors still on the Defensive

The latest sentix survey suggests that investors remain on a defensive footing in terms of their sector preferences. While pessimism on Basic Resources versus the market has receded a little in the past month, Energy remains deeply unloved. At the same time, survey participants continue to become less optimistic on cyclical sectors such as Autos, Chemicals and Industrial Goods & Services (Chart 2, page 2). This is in sharp contrast to improving sentiment towards defensive sectors such as Healthcare and Food & Beverage. Indeed, the past month has even seen investors become a little less pessimistic on Utilities (Chart 3). Investors’ equity sector preferences versus the market continue to be tilted away from cyclical sectors towards defensives.