Perhaps the Affluent are experiencing a post-Olympic euphoria, while Millionaires remain positive, but level.

Little movement occurred in Investment Preferences, across the board. Not Investing is down slightly, as the Affluent and Millionaires tentatively move back into Stocks, and to a lesser degree, Real Estate.

Millionaire interest in Stocks rose 7.6 points, while Affluent rose only 2. However Not Investing remained level for Millionaires, while the Affluent score dropped 7 points, showing their stronger overall interest in getting back into investments. Millionaire interest in Bonds rose 2 points, which is a factor that directly contributes to pulling down their overall score. Bonds for the Affluent, however, held less sway as their interest dropped 2 points.

The Iraq War, at 39% in February 2007 has plummeted in the eyes of the affluent to 1%. Though still an election issue, this war and its one-time headline grabbing battles and the political debates surrounding it seems to be fading from the Affluent consciousness.

Though the 2008 Olympics might have stolen some of the thunder of the Russian invasion of Georgia (an event that could signal an alarming change in Russian policy and the start of another cold war), 4% still registered it as an important news story, above interest in the Iraq War. This is also perhaps due to their investments in Russia’s emerging markets.

The Affluent Household Outlook rose again, for the third month in a row (+7.3), buoyed by a strong Economy number which rose 11.6 points since July, driven largely by an 19 point rise with Millionaires. Also up were Household Income and Company Health. Though Household Assets fell slightly (-3.6), perhaps responding to the immediate pinch all of America is feeling from rising gas/oil prices, the overall rise in outlook is heartening.

Though standing 8.9 points lower than just a year ago, the Affluent Household Outlook’s recent upward trajectory shows hopefulness and the resiliency of the American investor’s faith in the economy.

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