Investor confidence in equities rises: report (by Clare Hutchison)

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Global equities are proving more of an attraction for investors amid improving market conditions and renewed hopes for economic growth, according to the latest Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey of fund managers. The survey showed showed that allocations towards equities made the biggest one-month leap since early 2011 in February, with 26% of asset allocators now overweight in equities versus just 12% in January. The report said the majority of those surveyed sees the world economy improving, due to better liquidity conditions and ease of trading. The data also showed that investors became more involved in emerging markets, with 44% of asset managers overweight in emerging market equities, up from 20% recorded the previous month. Further, the figures revealed that banks have benefitted from improved sentiment in Europe: 12% of European investors are now underweight in banks, a 38-point positive swing from the January figure.