LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Global investor confidence fell in September for the first time this year after hitting a five-year high in the previous month as investors consolidated their holding of risky assets, State Street said on Tuesday.
The global State Street Investor Confidence Index fell to 118.1 from a revised August level of 122.8.
The index has been above 100 -- the level considered to be neutral -- for six consecutive months, coinciding with a stock market rally that began in March.
The index increased every month between December and August, when it hit the level not seen since May 2004.
"Institutional investors took a breather this month and consolidated their holdings of risky assets. This month's reading... is still comfortable in the range associated with the accumulation of risk exposures," said Ken Froot, Harvard University professor and co-developer of the index.
"However, there is a recognition that a portion of the recent rise in global equity prices can be attributed to liquidity expansion rather than fundamental opportunities. Institutional investors are pausing to assess this balance."
Regionally, the confidence of North American institutional investors declined slightly to 113.7 from 118.3. European investor confidence rose to 110.9 from 109.3 while Asian morale rose to 93.1 from 91.9.
The data is extrapolated from movements in around $16.4 trillion of assets State Street holds as custodian and administrator for institutional investors. (Reporting by Natsuko Waki; editing by Stephen Nisbet)