Investors Concerned but Not Pessimistic About Stocks

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sixty-one percent of U.S. investors are concerned about stock market volatility, including 16% who are "very concerned." At the same time, investors are more likely to be optimistic (49%) than pessimistic (28%) about the market's performance over the next 12 months. Optimism about the market's future has changed little over the past six months.

These findings are from the fourth-quarter Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index survey. It was conducted Nov. 12-20, before the most recent round of stock market fluctuations, but after the Dow Jones Industrial Average had experienced swings of at least 500 points in a single day on 12 separate occasions in 2018. The survey reflects the views of 1,022 U.S. adults who have $10,000 or more invested in stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

Compared with May, investors are more likely to be very or somewhat concerned about the number of major day-to-day changes in the stock market -- a six-percentage-point increase.