Investors Look Abroad for Best Returns in 2007

A TD Ameritrade survey of 674 investors indicated that half of retail investors see the best returns in 2007 coming from markets outside of the United States, the company’s Chief Executive Joe Moglia said during an interview with CNBC last Thursday.   Moglia dismissed concerns that markets in hot areas such as China and India may soon implode.   “There are going to be corrections in China,” he said. “By the same token, if you—if everybody just sold a couple of toothbrushes to everybody in China, you’re got a reasonable growth business,” Moglia said.   India, likewise, has been an area where some say investors hoping to win big fast might get burned. “They’re places you want to be long term,” Moglia said. “That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be any risk. But in terms of long-term growth prospects, I think you’ve got to be there.”   Sixty percent of survey respondents—perhaps emboldened by a strong start to the year, inflation that seems to be under control and reports of strong productivity—expect returns between 6% and 12%, he said.   Respondents also felt far less confident in the consumer sector, perhaps driven by news in the automobile industry.   Set in the context of Wells Fargo’s decision to offer 100 free trades each year to clients with more than $25,000 in deposits or loans, Moglia said that while everyone appreciates free stuff, he said, it’s customer service that will keep clients, he said.   Moglia also emphasized the importance of educating consumers about 401(k)-type defined benefit plan participation.   The staff of Money Management Executive ("MME") has prepared these capsule summaries based on reports published by the news sources to which they are attributed. Those news sources are not associated with MME, and have not prepared, sponsored, endorsed, or approved these summaries.