Hong Kong ETF ownership hits 34% despite buying caution

Almost half, or 46%, said they are unlikely to invest in ETFs over the next 12 months.

About 1 in 3 or 34% of Hong Kong investors currently hold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but they remain more cautious about future ETF investments than their regional counterparts, according to a study by Amundi.

The appetite for ETF investments grew from 26% in 2025 and is higher than the global average of 31%.

Despite the rise, almost half, or 46% of Hong Kong investors, said they are unlikely to invest in ETFs over the next 12 months, compared with 40% across Asia.

About 25% of Hong Kong investors said they are comfortable with ETFs and can explain how they work and their typical uses, broadly in line with the figures for Asia at 26% and globally at 27%.

Hong Kong investors cited diversification and lower fees as their main reasons for investing in ETFs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also becoming more widely used in investment decisions, with 9 in 10 or 90% of Hong Kong investors surveyed saying that they have used AI to support investment decisions at least occasionally.

About 19% said they use AI assistants for investment information and decision-making, above the global average of 14%.

Despite the widespread use of AI, investors remain reluctant to hand over control of their portfolios, Amundi found.

Whilst 84% reported positive experiences with AI-assisted investment decisions, only 11% said they would allow AI to manage their investments automatically.

AI is most commonly used to compare funds, cited by 35% of respondents, followed by analysing financial reports at 32% and researching companies at 31%.

More than half, or 54%, of Hong Kong investors expect retirement income to come from personal savings and investments, whilst 36% identified retirement funding as a long-term investment goal, above the global average of 33%.

For retirement planning, 26% prefer a mix of self-management and professional guidance, with younger investors twice as likely as older investors to favour this approach.

The main retirement objectives cited were covering day-to-day expenses with reliable income, at 53%, preparing for health-related costs, at 40%, and maintaining leisure and lifestyle spending, at 37%.

The study surveyed 18,000 retail investors and savers across 26 countries.