Ranks of younger, lower-income investors growing, survey shows
Hong Kong's investor base is gaining more new faces who are relatively younger and have lower incomes, while overall appetite for risk has risen with stocks being the most favoured investment, according to an HSBC survey.
The proportion of investors aged 18 to 29 had grown to 17 per cent from 12 per cent last year, HSBC said in its sixth annual investment market monitor survey, which polled 1,305 investors aged 18 to 64 years old.
Those with monthly incomes less than HK$10,000 accounted for 31 per cent, up from 22 per cent, the report said.
'The influx of new investors, particularly from the mass market in Hong Kong, is not surprising under the current bullish market,' said Burno Lee, HSBC's head of wealth management.
'More young and less experienced investors in the market would not have a significant effect on the Hong Kong stock market as these investors usually only put a small amount of money into stocks,' said Mr Lee.
'When the market turns into long-term correction ... the young investors may become irrational.'