In the survey conducted during the last week in October 2009, 47 percent of investors described their market outlook as “neutral” or “not sure,” which are among the highest levels reported since the survey’s inception in July 2007. Accordingly, most of those surveyed maintain a skeptical view of the Obama administration’s handling of financial market matters, with more than 62 percent of respondents saying the administration’s policies either make them feel “less confident in the market” or had “no effect at all” on their market confidence, up two percentage points from last quarter.

“One thing is certain: uncertainty dominates right now,” said Don Montanaro, Chairman and CEO of TradeKing. “We see at TradeKing how investors’ bullishness comes in the form of very specific moment-in-time opportunities, but the overall sense is that the market could go either way on any given day until we see some solid trending data signaling long-term recovery.”

Unemployment Remains #1 Trade Trigger for Second Consecutive Quarter

U.S. Unemployment Claims held fast as the top trade trigger for both equities and options traders, with 41 percent of respondents pointing to this issue as their primary concern. U.S. Housing, Consumer Spending and Interest Rates all tied for second at 30 percent. These concerns knocked Quarterly Earnings from its #2 spot last quarter, falling sharply from 36 percent to 27 percent in this most recent survey.

Energy and Technology Sectors Have Moved Up Sharply As Top Long Opportunities for Equities and Options Traders

For the sixth straight quarter, Energy remained the favorite sector for both equities and options traders as having the greatest potential for success in a long position for the coming quarter, followed closely by Technology.

• 58 percent of total respondents selected Energy as their top long play in the coming quarter, up from 49 percent in July. It was followed by Technology at 47 percent, which rose from 34 percent just three months ago.

From a short position, Transportation and Travel took top spot for the second consecutive quarter, followed by Finance and Retail as the most promising short plays.

• Transportation and Travel was selected by 24 percent of the respondents for the top overall sector to short, up from 19 percent last quarter. Finance took second at 23 percent and Retail came in third at 21 percent.