A research report titled "Decoding Investors" released by Amundi surveyed 18,000 people across 26 countries, offering an in-depth analysis of respondents' investment goals, concerns, behavioral patterns, and information sources.

Although Hong Kong investors are increasingly receptive to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), nearly half of those surveyed said they are unlikely to invest in ETFs over the next 12 months.

Amundi noted that roughly 34% of surveyed Hong Kong investors hold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), up 8% from 2025 and above the global average of 31%, reflecting the growing importance of ETFs within local retail portfolios.

Despite the rise in ETF ownership, surveyed Hong Kong investors showed relatively conservative appetite for entering the market over the next 12 months, taking a more cautious stance than Asia overall. Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they are unlikely to invest in ETFs over the next 12 months, higher than Asia's overall 40%.

With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly prevalent, 90% of surveyed Hong Kong investors said they occasionally use AI to assist with investment decisions, while only 10% said they never use AI, far below the global average of 27%. Even more notably, 19% of Hong Kong investors already use AI assistants, above the global average of 14%.

However, although 84% of Hong Kong investors said they are satisfied with their experience of using AI to assist with investment decisions, only 11% are willing to let AI fully manage their investment portfolios automatically.

Amundi said Hong Kong investors mainly rely on themselves to fund their retirement plans, though many prefer to seek guidance rather than fully self-manage their retirement investments. 54% of surveyed Hong Kong investors expect retirement income to come mainly from personal savings and investments.

Yet many still have limited confidence in themselves as investors. 36% of surveyed Hong Kong investors list retirement savings as a long-term investment goal, above the global average of 33%. A blended approach is the most commonly adopted for retirement planning, with 26% saying they prefer combining self-management with professional guidance. Among investors in their 20s to 40s, the likelihood of seeking a mix of expert advice and self-directed investing is twice that of investors in their 50s to 60s.

In addition, the top retirement goals among surveyed Hong Kong investors are maintaining a stable income to cover daily essential expenses (53%), preparing for medical-related expenses (40%), and preserving leisure and quality of life after retirement (37%).