A new survey released today by Horizons BetaPro Funds reports bullish optimism among financial advisors for the final quarter of the year.

Of the 500 advisors polled, managing more than $25 billion in assets and representing a significant cross section of the industry, more than half indicated a bullish forecast for the gold sector, Canadian equities and technology stocks.

“Our current sentiment survey demonstrates a pendulum swing for advisors who, in the third quarter survey reported a more bear-like perspective in equities overall,” said Howard Atkinson, president, BetaPro Management Inc.

“Interestingly in the financial sector we see a 40% bullish outlook for Q4, where in the last quarter 55% of advisors reported a bearish outlook.”

“Apparently, advisors feel that easing U.S. monetary policy and credit market stabilization is healthy for bank shares.”

Crude oil and energy stocks were the best gainers in the third quarter, and advisors continue to be bullish on this sector.

“Markets have been generally on the upswing during the third quarter and advisors see this continuing to year end,” Atkinson said.

Surprisingly, when asked about the Canadian vs. U.S. dollar, 50% of advisors reported a continued bullish forecast despite the recent rise of the Canadian dollar to and through parity with the U.S. dollar.

Horizons BetaPro Funds and exchange-traded funds are managed by BetaPro Management Inc., a Toronto-based financial services company managing more than $500 million among its eight ETFs and 14 mutual funds.

Full survey results are available at http://www.hbpetfs.com/quartely_sentiment_survey.asp.