The more affluent Americans are more positive about the stock market now than they were in 2005. However, according to a survey released Tuesday, they also believe gains will be more muted in the future.

The 2006 U.S. Trust survey of affluent Americans, the 25th in a series begun by the New York-based wealth management company in 1993, measures the confidence of a sample of the top 1 percent wealthiest Americans — those with an adjusted gross income of more than $300,000 or a net worth greater than $5.9 million.

The survey found that 63% of respondents were optimistic about their U.S. stock market investments, up from 48% in 2005 but still below the 2004 high of 66%. Meanwhile, the study found that the wealthy are still concerned about future returns.

The respondents expressed concern that stock market gains will be lower in the future when asked to identify their top financial worries. They also worried that their children will have a tougher time financially, terrorism could hurt the economy and inflation could eat away at investments.

By M. Sese
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