This is compared to just 29% of those surveyed from the Generation X and Baby Boomer generations.

The survey of 500 Australian retail investors, commissioned by investment platform eToro, also showed 84% were more confident in the share market than Australian and global economies as a whole.

Australian Managing Director of eToro, Robert Francis, said these findings demonstrate a shift in attitudes. 

"In 2020, we saw a confluence of circumstances including the acceleration of digital technologies, commission-free stock investing, interest rate cuts and similar trends which well and truly pushed retail participation in the capital markets," Mr Francis said.

One in three also believe the US markets present the 'best' investment opportunities over the next three months, compared to emerging or European markets.

Still, Australian investors favour dividend stocks, with 35% considering this the most important factor of when making an investment decision.

The most popular method for investing research is through Googling, with 41% of respondents favouring this method. 

However, more experienced share traders (10 years or more) are "considerably less likely" to use online forums and social media for investment advice.

"It’s an exciting space to be part of, as younger generations are certainly finding their own footing, rather than simply following their parents when it comes to the types of investments they make," Mr Francis said.

See Also: What does inflation mean for shares?

Global vs Australian share trading trends

eToro's total survey had 6,000 respondents spread across 12 countries - 500 in each.

In the United States, 51% were concerned about inflation, higher than peers in the UK (36%), and second only to Poland (55%).

Inflation is at a near 30 year high in the US, while Australia's hit 3.8% off the back of fuel prices and the Government withdrawing free childcare - this has led one expert to call headline inflation measurements "practically useless".

Fewer Australians (25%) than Americans (29%) believe there is going to be an 'imminent' market crash in the next three months. 

In this respect, out of the 12 countries, Australians are the fourth-least worried about a crash, behind Germany (22%), Denmark (17%), and the Netherlands (15%).

Conversely, the most worried was Poland, with 39% concerned about an imminent market crash. 

This is compared to a 12-nation average of 27%. 

What's got the Poles worried? Maybe it's the vodka.

eToro's global markets strategist, Ben Laidler, explained and quelled some of the worry.

"The global economy is in a strange state at the moment. For perhaps the first time in history, central banks around the world are happy to let inflation run hot for a short period in order to let their economies recover from the pandemic," Mr Laidler said.

"That provides incentive for investors to keep putting their money into equities, which have proven to be the only long-term asset able to consistently deliver inflation-beating returns."

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash





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