Poll: More investors worried about higher interest rates

Investors appear more anxious than hopeful that higher interest rates will help them financially, according to a Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index Survey released Friday.

A total of 43 percent of investors expressed concern about higher rates. Twenty-seven percent of U.S. investors said they believe higher interest rates would hurt them a little financially and 16 percent expect the rates to hurt them a lot.

{mosads}The poll found 33 percent of investors believe higher rates would not make a difference to them.

The survey comes as Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen hints at raising interest rates at some point later this year, depending on the strength of the economy. The Federal Reserve has not raised rates since 2006.

Sixty-one percent of investors said they expect interest rates to go up in the next 12 months while 7 percent predict they will go down. Thirty percent said they expect interest rates to remain the same.

The survey came before the Federal Reserve’s June meeting when it decided not to raise rates at this time.

The poll surveyed 1,005 investors between May 22 and 31 with a 4-percent margin of error. Those surveyed were adult investors with at least $10,000 in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, or a self-directed IRA or 401(k).