With global financial markets still in
turmoil gauging investor attitude towards various asset classes is
of particular significance. UK insurer Friends Provident has
tackled this subject with the first of a series of studies
undertaken by its Friends Provident International (FPI) unit.
The objective, according to FPI director and
general manager Jonathan Hall, is to build up an index that will
become a reliable indicator of investor attitudes.
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“We hope to be able to identify trends, listen
to what people are saying and use that information to help us build
the products our customers need,” said Hall.
For its first report FPI focused on Hong Kong,
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, its three principal
markets.
Significantly, in all three gold featured as
the most trusted form of investment, with 53% of respondents
choosing gold as their preferred form of investment.
Gold was followed, in order of preference, by
cash, equities, property, currency markets, collectables and
bonds.
Though risk takers are in a minority in all
three countries, Hong Kong has the highest number of risk takers,
with 21% of respondents saying they prefer high-risk, high-return
products.
The surveys were conducted between 26 April and
4 May.
