Chartered Financial Analysts in BRIC countries—Brazil, China, India and Russia—expressed more optimism in their economies at the end of 2006 than they had a year earlier, according to results of a survey released April 4 by the CFA Institute.

Chinese advisors registered the greatest increase: In 2005, only 16 percent of respondents said they were “highly optimistic” and 53 percent were “somewhat optimistic.” At the end of 2006, those figures were 36 percent and 52 percent respectively.

“Clearly the continued accessibility of local markets, the adoption of free market principles and the build up to events like the 2008 Olympics are having a huge internal impact on confidence,” said Jan Squires, managing director of CFA Institute Asia Pacific operations.

Expectations for the investment market were highest in India, where 82 percent of the respondents said they were more optimistic than in 2005. That rate was 78 percent in China, 51 percent in Russia, and 47 percent in Brazil.

The banking, finance and insurance sector ranked highest in upside potential among Chinese, Indian and Russian advisors. In Brazil, real estate was listed as having the most potential.

The online survey included 1,771 CFA Institute members and candidates in the four countries.