Millionaires apparently are bullish on stocks.
A new CNBC survey shows that 70 percent of them think the S&P 500 index will advance at least 5 percent next year. The index has returned 9.3 percent so far this year.
Interestingly enough, Democratic millionaires are more bullish than their Republican counterparts.
A total of 78 percent of Democratic respondents see stocks rising at least 5 percent, while only 63 percent of Republicans have that view.
Among the poll's other findings:
- Stocks represent millionaires' top investment choice for 2015. A total of 49 percent say they'll invest in stocks, followed by 21 percent for bonds, 13 percent for short-term investments and 2 percent for alternative investments, such as hedge funds and private equity.
- In terms of stock-market sectors, technology is No. 1 for where millionaires are likely to invest next year, followed by energy, financial services and healthcare.
- Overall, 22 percent of millionaires expect their household incomes to rise by at least 5 percent in 2015.
Meanwhile, a donation by legendary investor Warren Buffett heads the list of the 10 biggest single charitable contributions for 2014, compiled by
Wealth-X, a wealth research firm.
Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, donated $2.1 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the form of 16.6 million Berkshire shares. That was 3 percent of his net worth.
The list consists entirely of Americans, except for Hong Kong real estate moguls Ronnie and Gerald Chan (brothers). Together they gave $350 million to Harvard, the single biggest gift in its history.
Ken Griffin, founder of hedge fund manager Citadel, also donated to Harvard: $150 million, or 3 percent of his net worth.
Nicholas Woodman, founder of GoPro, donated $497.5 million, or 10 percent of his net worth, to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
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