Is cash the best investment? Hong Kong adults think so!

cash investment Hong Kong — Image by Skorzewiak | Bigstockphoto

22% of Hong Kong adults think cash will be the best-performing investment in 2022, making it the top pick ahead of stocks, cryptocurrency and property, according to Finder.com’s Retail Investor Sentiment Report.

Finder polled 1,005 Hong Kongese adults in December 2021 and 39,573 people globally* to reveal that while Hong Kongese are most likely to back cash, the percentage who think it will be the best investment is below the global average of 24%.

The next most popular pick is the share market, with 21% of Hong Kong adults saying shares and ETFs will be the top performer in 2022. This is followed by cryptocurrency (15%), NFTs and property (14% each), bonds and commodities (7% each).

While NFTs aren’t the top pick for Hong Kongese, they are the most likely to back NFTs out of 26 countries and regions. Globally, just 5.9% of people think NFTs will be the top investment for 2022, which dwarves in comparison to Hong Kong’s 14%.

Finder’s investment editor, Kylie Purcell, said it’s not surprising to see Hong Kongers think cash and shares will perform best this year given the economic climate remains uncertain.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the market at the moment and each investment comes with its own set of risks and potential rewards. Cash is seen as a safe investment but people need to consider the inflation-adjusted return.”
“$100 dollars today may only be worth $80 down the track so consumers should be thinking about how they can inflation-proof their portfolios but maintain liquidity should they need the cash.”
“On the other hand, with the Fed expected to raise the interest rate, some analysts think Hong Kong could follow suit as they have done in the past.
“When interest rates go up, it’s typically good news for cash savers, and bad news for other investments like stocks.
“It’s always a good idea for retail investors to have a diversified portfolio and avoid putting all their eggs in one basket.”