How they behaved investors during the pandemic of Covid-19? They informed themselves more, showed a greater propensity for diversification and relied on a good advisor. These are the main trends that emerge from the research "The investor between pandemic and future” commissioned by Invesco to Eumetra and carried out on a sample of 803 investors and 301 consultants.
2020 was a dramatic year in terms of health and the economic and financial repercussions of the crisis are already there for all to see. Lhe pandemic has also affected the way of investing of Italians and on the relationship they have established with their financial adviser. In detail, according to the study, investors considered it a priority to study and inform themselves before deciding where to place their money (26%). 25% of respondents also stressed the importance of diversifying, while 23% said they were more rational in their investment strategy. "Finally, despite more than a year of social distancing and video calls, the investor recognizes the crucial value of a good advisor (13%), testifying that - in difficult times - quality human and professional relationships prove to be fundamental", comments Invesco.
The pandemic has also increased the enormous liquidity already present in current accounts Italians. The research shows that 84% of the sample showed an orientation towards growth of their assets in the near future (2-3 years), even if it is considered useful to have more liquidity than usual (in 55% of cases).
“What catches the eye is that this predisposition to invest, in order to be fulfilled, needs sufficiently credible reasons: the Italian investor therefore proves to be insensitive to the overall positive trend of the markets, looking for more solid motivations over time”, reads the study.
So what are the reasons considered convincing? Storytelling, innovation, long-term structural trends and impact.
Turning to structural trends, the Invesco-Emetra research identifies three pillars: internet, e-commerce and health. For 86% of those interviewed, everything related to the digital universe increases sustainability and for 89% it creates value for the economy. Even the ESG trend during the pandemic has shown an evolution and today sustainability is expected to save the world (global warming 44%) and improve the management of scarce resources (41%).
After digital, health is the best-known trend among investors: the immediate social utility of this trend leads 85% of the sample to link it to the improvement of the world and 89% perceive it as creating value for the economy and business.
Rita Schirinzi, Head of Marketing Italy of Invesco, said: “Our research highlights a new client/investor, who expects stories of great concreteness and pragmatism, even when it comes to values (as in the case of ESG solutions). If he expects it from all sectors, from all businesses and finance, he is not and will not be an exception. If the financial world accepts this challenge and complements its culture and financial instrumentation with approaches and demonstrations on the effective concreteness and impact of its investment solutions on society and the economy, it will also play that social role that was lost in the past in the mists of previous financial crises .”
