Equities will be the riskiest asset class this year and through the next decade, but will also offer the highest returns and attract the biggest allocation boost from investors, a poll predicted on Monday.
In a survey of more than 11,500 investors by asset management firm Franklin Templeton Investments, 59 percent said stocks would be the most lucrative investment this year, followed by real estate (55 percent) and precious metals (39 percent).
Almost a third (32 percent) said they plan to increase their exposure to stocks this year, more than double the number (14 percent) that plan to reduce it, and a higher percentage than those who will increase bond, alternative investment or cash holdings.
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Globally, equities were seen as the riskiest asset class in 2015 and over the next 10 years, according to 35 percent of those polled, closely followed by the euro (34 percent) and non-metal commodities (32 percent).