AAII Sentiment Survey: How Do Investors Feel About 2013?

Optimism rebounded strongly, as pessimism dropped in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey.

Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, jumped 7.7 percentage points to 46.4%. This matches the short-term high set on December 20, 2012. Bullish sentiment is also above its historical average of 39% for the sixth time in seven weeks.

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Neutral sentiment, expectations that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, increased 1.5 percentage points to 26.6%. Even with the improvement, neutral sentiment is below its historical average of 30.5% for the 13th consecutive week.

Bearish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will fall over the next six months, fell 9.3 percentage points to 26.9%. Though the magnitude of the increase is steep, it only puts pessimism at a three-week low. Bearish sentiment is also below its historical average of 30.5% for the fourth time in five weeks.

At current levels…