Investor confidence slipped from 123 index points in December to 117 points last month, the JP Morgan Investor Confidence Index, based on a quarterly survey in Hong Kong, shows.

“The level of optimism seen last year has not been maintained, with some momentum lost,” said Henry Tong, vice-president of intermediary business at JP Morgan Asset Management.

“However, the indices are still relatively high in comparison to recent trends, and confidence still exists overall.”