Compliance & Regulation

SFC releases Asset and Wealth Management Activities Survey 2017

The Asset and Wealth Management Activities Survey (Survey), previously known as the Fund Management Activities Survey (FMAS), is conducted annually by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to collect information and data on the general state of affairs of the asset and wealth management industry in Hong Kong.

Key findings of the Survey of Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management industry for 2017 are illustrated below: 

Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management business amounted to HKD24,270 billion as at 31 December 2017. 

The asset management and fund advisory business conducted by licensed corporations and registered institutions grew by 23% to HKD17,511 billion (USD2,242 billion) in 2017 amid a global economic upswing.

As at 31 December 2017, the total assets under management by the private banking and private wealth management business amounted to HKD7,812 billion1 (USD1,000 billion), of which 52% was invested in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Overseas investors remained a major source of funding for the asset and wealth management business , accounting for 66%. 

Assets managed in Hong Kong made up 55% of the asset management business , with 57% of these assets invested in equities as at 31 December 2017. 

The total number of staff in the asset and wealth management business increased 5% to 37,062 in 2017, with staff engaged in non-sales-and-marketing activities accounting for an increasing proportion.

The number of Hong Kong-domiciled SFC-authorised funds increased 7% to 755 and their net asset value increased 30% to HKD1,244 billion (USD159 billion) in the 12 months ended 31 December 2017.

The number of corporations licensed for asset management (Type 9 regulated activity) in Hong Kong increased 14% from 1,300 as at 31 December 2016 to 1,477 as at 31 December 2017. 

The number of licensed corporations and registered institutions established by Mainland-related groups in Hong Kong increased 12% from 298 as at 31 December 2016 to 334 as at 31 December 2017.READ THE SFC REPORT IN FULL