In Hong Kong, only 36% were confident about opportunities in 2015, down from 45% in 2014.
Asia remains the most favoured region among HK investors, with three quarters of them believing it will deliver the best returns this year, while only 21% prefer to invest in Europe.
Globally, the survey, which interviewed over 20,000 retail investors in 28 countries, found a “significant disconnect” between investors’ expected returns and their appetite for risk.
Despite nine in 10 investors expecting to see their investments grow over the next year, 45% of investors’ funds are being placed in low-risk and low returns assets such as cash, while just 21% of their portfolio is going to higher-risk products such as equities.
Massimo Tosato, executive vice chairman at Schroders, said: “Expecting double-digit returns within the next 12 months while only placing less than a quarter of an investment portfolio in higher-risk assets suggests investors are not taking a realistic approach.
“It’s imperative that investors shape their portfolios to balance the risk profile with the returns they are seeking, and, in most cases, that will require a level of professional advice.”
