HSBC reports affluent Indians prefer gold for long-term growth
By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – According to HSBC report issued on Wednesday stated that wealthy Indian investors are increasingly turning to alternative assets, managed investment solutions, and global diversification, marked a significant departure from traditional investment strategies.
According to the HSBC 2025 Affluent Investor Snapshot, a global report based on a survey of 10,797 affluent investors across 12 markets, evolving investment behavior, among Indian high-net-worth individuals showed a clear preference for multi-asset strategies and overseas markets.
HSBC noted that Indian investors are increasingly embracing managed investment products such as mutual funds and alternative assets, moving beyond equities and real estate to achieve long-term financial goals.
Gold has emerged as a major beneficiary of this shift, with its share in Indian investor portfolios rising from 8 per cent to 15 per cent over the past year, followed by alternative investments. Equities and managed products continue to hold dominant positions, it said.
Indian investors also exhibit the lowest average cash allocation in Asia, at just 15% signaling higher confidence in growth-oriented asset deployment.
The report noted that appetite for overseas investment is growing.
It showed that Indian investors, like their global peers, are actively looking at foreign markets to diversify portfolios.
The US remains the most preferred destination, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, and the United Kingdom.
Globally, 4 in 10 affluent investors plan to invest internationally in the next 12 months, with the strongest intent observed in the UAE (56 per cent) and Singapore (50 per cent).
A significant number are looking to open overseas investment accounts in the US, Singapore, and Hong Kong, the report said.
The report noted that despite global macroeconomic uncertainty, Indian investors display strong confidence in their financial futures.
Over 90 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in meeting their short-term financial goals, over 80 per cent in medium-term objectives, and 86 per cent in long-term plans.
The report emphasized that 80 percent of affluent investors feel optimistic about achieving their financial goals, with retirement planning emerging as a top priority across generations.
In India, property investments, family financial support, and personal well-being top the list of financial goals.
Over 85 per cent of Indian investors reported satisfaction with their overall quality of life, underlining their financial resilience and lifestyle security.
The report underscored a broader evolution in wealth management among Indian investors away from passive asset holding and toward active diversification, international outlook, and long-term wealth creation.
The report concluded that as cash allocations fall and interest in alternatives and managed strategies rises, the affluent Indian investor is poised to play a more dynamic role in the global financial ecosystem.
