The respondents¡¦ investment performance in 2004 was the strongest in three years, with 80% of them indicating gains from stock investments and 82% taking profit from forex trading. Performance in funds and property investments was also positive, with 83% and 82% respectively of total reporting gains. The respondents showed optimism in their expectations of the performance of various markets, with 81% expecting a bullish stock market in 2005, and 69% holding a bullish view on the forex market. 76% of respondents gave optimistic forecasts for the funds and real estate markets next year.

Mr W.Y. Fung, President of AIA Hong Kong Branch, said: "The survey indicates a strong rebound in investment performance of local investors. In stock investments, for instance, there are 80% of profit takers this year, compared with 71% in 2003 and 31% in 2002. Profit-taker percentages for forex investments are 82% in 2004, 72% in 2003 and 57% in 2002. Local investors seem to be taking a most bullish view on property and banking stocks, with around 2,000 respondents picking these two categories as the best performing stocks in 2005. Interestingly, for the first time, investors of both genders performed equally well in stock investments, compared with a moderately better performance by male investors last year."

Mr. Lai Wai Shing, Associate Director of Hantec Holdings Limited Research Department said: "Hong Kong's stock market is expected to follow an upward trend next year with HSI topping 16,500 to 17,000 in the second half of the year. There may be corrections, but there will be support in the range of 12,800 to 13,000. Profits of property stocks will be boosted by writebacks of provisions, and their stock prices are now lagging behind. Banking stocks will stay strong. We should also pay attention to H shares which are expected to benefit from the cooling of the Chinese economy, and red chips with restructuring concept."

The weakest performance was recorded in options and futures trading, with 52% taking profits in this category, compared with 78% in bullion and 65% in HSI investments. Their expectations for 2005 are more or less linked to their performance in the respective category this year.

Mr Andrew Tang, Vice Chairman & General Manger, Hantec Group, added: "We have obtained mixed results from the survey, in the sense that investors are highly optimistic about investment performances, but on the other hand tend to hold a conservative view of a salary increase in the coming year. In contrary to the forecasts made by employers of a mild salary increase for employees in 2005, 53% of the 3,000 respondents to our suvey expected their own salary to remain unchanged next year. Another 30% expected a raise of 1-3%, also behind employers¡¦ forecasts."

The results of the above survey were audited by Wong Lam Leung & Kwok CPA Limited.

About The Association of International Accountants (AIA)
Based in the UK the AIA is an international accountancy body offering an accountancy qualification, recognized by the UK Government under the Companies Act 1989 as a professional qualification for company auditors.

The AIA syllabus has been designed to provide students with a practical course of study covering a broad base of accountancy subjects. Equipped with these accounting skills graduates can pursue a career within any business sector: commerce or industry, the public or private sector. The high standard of the AIA professional qualification is maintained by the independent and external moderation of the examinations.

The AIA was specifically founded to provide an international organization for professional accountants and is fully committed to the ongoing achievement of this original aim. The AIA has a network of branches in many countries throughout the world including Cyprus, Europe, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Africa and the Caribbean. The branches provide an active international framework for the Association offering support and guidance for students and members.

About Hantec Group
Founded in 1990, Hantec Investment Holdings Limited (SEHK: 111) offers integrated comprehensive financial and investment services including leveraged forex trading, securities trading, financial advisory services, fund management, commodities and futures trading, asset management, corporate finance, personal financial services and affinity credit card. The Group now operates three branches and seven personal financial services centers locally as well as four associated companies in Taiwan, New Zealand and Japan, and five representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Tokyo and Taipei.

Issued by :
The Association of International Accountants (Hong Kong Branch)
Hantec Investment Holdings Limited

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