A majority of Australians want the federal government to block an American food giant from buying GrainCorp.
Some 51.2 per cent of respondents to a GPS-Melbourne Institute poll say Treasurer Joe Hockey should stop Archer Daniels Midland's (ADM) from acquiring all of Australia's biggest grains handler.
Just 18.9 per cent of those surveyed were in favour of allowing the takeover, with 30 per cent undecided.
The poll of 1,000 people comes as the Nationals in the coalition government urge Mr Hockey to oppose the ADM takeover when he makes a decision, due on December 17.
A volatile month on the Australian share market has also made investors nervous, with the institute's quarterly shareholder confidence reading falling by one per cent in November to 107.7 index points, down from 108.8 points in August.
"The index is indicating underlying concerns with share market activity," the Melbourne Institute said in a statement on Monday.
"The confidence index is flat and shareholders are signalling a contraction in buying intentions and an expansion in selling intentions."
The drop in confidence occurred even though the key ASX200 benchmark had actually improved by seven per cent between the beginning of August and early November.
Investors with more than 20 years experience playing the market were the gloomiest about the prospects for the Australian Securities Exchange.
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