WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The re-election of America’s first black president shows that President Barack Obama’s triumph four years ago was not a fluke, but it did reflect a strong trend of change in US demographics.

Obama was re-elected with victories in key states and will continue his presidency for another 4 years. The result may not be welcomed by Wall Street, — despite the 2009 bailout package for the big businesses by the Obama administration.

According a report from Bloomberg, the portion of adult citizens who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups grew by 4 percentage points in Nevada, 3 percentage points in Virginia, 2 percentage points in Florida and 1 percentage point in Ohio and Iowa between 2008 and 2011.

The analysis of Census data was conducted by William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington. That put states with more electoral votes in the safely Democratic column than in the safely Republican one, and left Romney with fewer potential paths to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Obama’s win was further supported by Romney’s tough stance on illegal immigration.

If the election result is of any importance to the long-term investor, it is the trend of changing US demographics that we need to pay attention to now. As US demographics change, many industries will be affected, said a expert on Wednesday.

Despite predictions of diminished turnout by Obama’s core constituencies — blacks, Hispanics, young voters, and women — they delivered again for both the president and the Democratic Party.

Still, 2012 was a markedly different election. Gone is the optimistic tone of 2008. The road ahead is paved with tough choices, amid worsening fiscal conditions. And the scorched-earth quality of the campaign, fuelled by unprecedented spending by the campaigns, the parties, and outside groups, has left many Americans gasping for air.

The continuation of the status quo — Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House — foretells more gridlock. In his victory speech, Obama sought to provide a moment of lift at the end of a gruelling campaign.

“The task of perfecting our Union moves forward,” the president told his supporters.

“It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope.”

Major news outlets had called the election for Obama at about 11.20pm on Tuesday, but Mr Romney delayed conceding until early Wednesday morning, when his advisers had determined there was no credible way to keep fighting, even as Florida remained too close to call with Obama slightly ahead. If Obama’s lead in Florida holds, he will have won the Electoral College 332 to 206.

In what was likely his final moment in the national spotlight, Romney wished Obama well.

“This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation,” Romney told his supporters in Boston.

But the outlook for a better atmosphere in Washington is uncertain at best.