Gains on stock markets 'set to continue'

A global stock market rally is likely to take place in 2010, a new poll has concluded.

According to Reuters, the majority of the 200 strategists it questioned on the issue believe global indices will continue to increase, even though the recovery from the multi-year lows hit in March has slowed of late.

Investors may wish to focus their efforts on the Hang Seng and Russia’s RTS, as these were identified by the experts as being set to increase by 24.2 per cent and 21.8 per cent respectively over the next year.

The FTSE and Dow Jones were forecast to end 9.7 per cent and 6.2 per cent higher than their current positions respectively, however not all of those questioned were optimistic about the state of the stock markets in the months to come.

’All the growth projections for the first half of 2010 might be a bit too aggressive,’ remarked broker at MF Global Canada Francis Campeau.

Trading was largely muted on the FTSE today, meaning the index was unable to extend the rally that had been seen over the past few days.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19530716-ADNFCR