Dah Sing Bank survey finds Hong Kong high-value investors remain more confident

Dah Sing Bank's latest Investor Confidence Index shows high-value investors remain more confident and willing to diversify portfolios despite concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) valuations, geopolitics and economic growth

Dah Sing Bank's second Investor Confidence Index (ICI) found that overall investor confidence in Hong Kong remained positive, with the index at 68, broadly unchanged from last year, despite global economic uncertainty, geopolitical developments and market volatility.

Respondents who were confident about market conditions over the next 12 months expected an average investment return of 7.7%. Affluent and high-value investors demonstrated stronger confidence than mass investors, with the confidence index among high-value investors reaching 75.

Conducted in August 2026, the survey tracked changes in investors' sentiment and behaviour under different market conditions through interviews with investors of profiles comparable to last year's sample, with the aim of establishing an authoritative indicator that reflects overall investor confidence in the market. The online survey covered 608 Hong Kong investors, comprising mass investors with liquid assets below HKD1 million (about $128,000), affluent investors with HKD1 million to HKD8 million (about $128,000 to $1.03 million) and high-value investors with more than HKD8 million ($1.03 million).

The survey showed that investors generally maintained a proactive investment stance. A total of 88% of respondents indicated that they would maintain or increase their investment allocation over the next 12 months.

Investors with higher levels of confidence also tended to hold a lower proportion of cash and adopt more diversified asset allocations, reflecting that risk diversification remains an important investment strategy.

Equities continued to be the most favoured asset class, with 56% of respondents confident of generating positive returns from equities over the next 12 months. Respondents also expected the Hang Seng Index and the S&P 500 Index to rise by 15% and 17% respectively from benchmark levels 1 over the coming 12 months, representing a larger increase than anticipated last year.

In terms of investment themes, technology-related opportunities remained the area of greatest interest for the second consecutive year, with 58% of respondents indicating an interest in related investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, 49% of respondents expressed concerns over high valuations of AI-related assets, while 46% were concerned about geopolitical risks and 38% about economic slowdown.

The survey also found that 59% of respondents would consider allocating to structured products, with the proportion reaching 72% among high-value investors. Among high-value investors who would consider allocating to structured products, the confidence index reached 80, while 53% planned to increase their investment allocations over the next 12 months. This suggests that more confident investors are more inclined to adopt diversified investment strategies.

Florence Cheung, General Manager and Deputy Head of Wealth Management of Dah Sing Bank, said: “This year’s survey shows that while investors continue to seek returns, they are placing increasing emphasis on risk management and asset allocation. As the investment environment continues to evolve, demand for diversified investment solutions and risk management tools continues to grow. Structured products can cater to different market conditions as well as customers’ diverse investment objectives and risk appetite, providing more flexible investment options and helping investors capture market opportunities while managing risk.”

Cheung added: “We note that some investors are interested in structured products while also seeking clearer product information and a more convenient investment experience. In response, Dah Sing Bank will continue to strengthen investor education and market information sharing to help customers better understand the features and potential risks of different investment products. Additionally, we continue to enhance our digital wealth management experience. Customers can already subscribe to selected structured products through our digital channels, and we will explore expanding the offering to include more product types in the future, enabling customers to capture market opportunities more conveniently and build more resilient and diversified investment portfolios.”

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society