Asset management firms hoping to profit by the return of the 'man in the street' to investing in financial markets may have a tougher time than they thought, as confidence in a sustained recovery has dropped significantly in the past six months, according to new statistics.

The UK's Investment Management Association, which does a six-monthly survey of about 3,500 small retail investors, said that in its November poll the numbers planning to invest money in the markets "practically halved" compared to May.