Poll suggests little enthusiasm for investing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The public's faith in stock market investing has plunged sharply in the last few years, with two-thirds now saying it's a bad idea to make a substantial investment in the market, says an Associated Press poll taken at a time the market has dropped to its lowest levels in years.

"When the stock market takes a beating," said New York teacher Jane Feldman, "our future takes a beating."

People were asked if they had $1,000 to spend, did they think it would be a good idea to invest it in the stock market. The poll for the AP was conducted Oct. 4-8 by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pa. Since then, the Dow Jones industrial average has climbed more than 370 points to close Monday at 7,877.40.

The poll found that only 29 percent said investing the money would be a good idea, and 64 percent said it would be a bad one. Just over half those who said they had investments in the stock market or mutual funds thought it was a bad idea.