The poll also found investors were broadening portfolios with alternatives and international investing exposure.

Affluent and high-net-worth investors were entering 2026 with a clear diversification plan: stay invested in equities for growth while using cash-like assets, bonds, gold and alternatives to manage volatility, an HSBC-commissioned online survey showed. The ‘HSBC Affluent Investor Snapshot’ surveyed 9,993 affluent and high-net-worth individuals between 6 January and 6 February across mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK and the US