Singapore investors least optimistic among Asian peers: survey

Almost 1 in 4 frustrated over stagnant wealth.

Among a group of Asian investors, you would most probably see the Singaporean as the most stressed out.

According to the Global Investment Survey by Legg Mason Global Asset Management, Singapore investors are the least optimistic about investments compared to their peers in Asia and are not meeting their investment goals as well as their peers in the region.

The survey revealed that almost four in ten (37%) Singapore investors surveyed lack optimism about their investments in the coming year. Less than one-third (29%) of Singapore investors see strong progress in growing their wealth.

Singapore investors came up the lowest globally for making progress towards achieving investment goals, with an average of 33% versus the global average of 73%. The majority (63%) of investors in Singapore, compared with only 22% globally, are not progressing with their goal of “avoiding depending on others in retirement.”

Almost half (45%) of the respondents expressed they are very or somewhat lacking confidence that their CPF savings can help meet their retirement goals. The rate of return Singapore investors achieved is also the lowest in the region at 5.4%, compared to Hong Kong (6.3%), China (8%) and Taiwan (7.3%).

“Despite Singapore enjoying a sustainable economic growth and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Asia, our survey found that local investors are less optimistic than their peers in the region. More than half did not see progression towards their investment goals and are turning to income-generating investments as a source of return,” said Lennie Lim, Singapore-based Managing Director and Regional Head – Asia at Legg Mason Global Asset Management.

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