With the first half of the year nearly over, major stock markets showed strong performance in May. The US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all hit record highs, while emerging markets outperformed — the MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose 9.7%, beating the MSCI World Index’s 4.6% gain. AI and semiconductor companies delivered solid results, boosting US and Asian markets.
Despite the rally, volatility remained high across stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities.
Billy Wong, Head of Pension Business Senior at BCT said BCT members continued shifting funds in May from mixed assets, bonds, and conservative funds into equities, building on April’s momentum.
Bond funds have seen net outflows for five consecutive months in 2025, showing reduced appeal for defensive assets
US equity funds were the biggest winner, attracting net inflows 11 times larger than Hong Kong equity funds. This reflects members’ optimism toward US tech and AI sectors. Hong Kong equity funds saw modest inflows, but members remain cautious on the local market.
Hang Seng Held Back by Old Economy
Wong explained that US stocks surged on strong AI hardware demand, lifting major tech giants. In contrast, the Hang Seng Index, heavily weighted toward financials, property, and traditional sectors, has limited exposure to new economy and AI themes, causing it to lag.
He advised MPF investors not to blindly follow indices. For long-term retirement planning, focus on diversification and new economy sectors to capture better growth potential.
Leave a comment