Global investors are once again turning to equities in order to get higher returns, according to a newly published survey.

Seven out of every 10 investors (70 per cent) surveyed by British fund manager Schroders said that they were planning to invest into equities in 2014. The percentage of investors looking to invest into equities was far more than the 18 per cent who were looking to invest into bonds.

More than half (56 per cent) of the survey said that they were more confident than last year about investment opportunities. Last year, 48 per cent of the respondents had showed confidence in available investment opportunities. 

Schroders' Executive Vice Chairman Massimo Tosato said that the survey report showed signs of renewed confidence in equity markets but that didn't hint immediate returns.

Speaking on the topic, Tosato said, "The report shows encouraging signs of renewed confidence in equity markets. It's an indication of where sentiment is, but it doesn't mean that a check will be written tomorrow."

Forty-one per cent of investors surveyed by Schroders said they had plans to invest in their own country, while the rest of the respondents said they would invest in global equities or other asset classes. While 3 in 10 saw best growth opportunities in North America, nearly 2 in 5 saw the same in Asia Pacific.

The aforementioned figures are based on a survey of 15,749 investors who intended to invest at least 10,000 euros ($13,760) over the next twelve months.