Asia equity markets best invester hope for 2016: Survey

Last year, investors had bet on Europe to be best-performing region

Global investors are pinning hopes on the Asian market (excluding Japan) to provide the best return on equity in 2016.

An investor sentiment survey conducted by Credit Suisse last week showed around 37% opting for Asia ex-Japan as the region most likely to outperform this year. Around 28% opted for the US and 24% for Europe, down from 45% last year. Only five% chose Japan.

Last year, investors had bet on Europe to be the best-performing region. However, it delivered minus five% (in dollar terms). The US market was the best performer, with nearly 25%.

Only 16% of the respondents in the previous survey had said the US, when asked "Which region do you expect to provide the greatest upside for equity investors?".

 

Investors have modest expectations for 2016. Around 43% expect flattish market growth. Nearly 40% said Asia ex-Japan could deliver between 10 and 20% return. And, 15% expect the market to be down by more than 10% in 2016.

The 19th Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference took place on April 5-8 and the investment bank had surveyed about 320 entities from 15 countries.