Asia's investor confidence dips amid global rise

INVESTOR confidence in Asia fell in September even as the global investor sentiment rose, State Street's Investor Confidence Index (ICI) released on Wednesday showed. Asia's ICI dipped 4.5 points to 97.1 last month, compared to August, and North America's retreated 5.1 points to 103, while Europe's surged 12.6 points to 140. The global ICI rose 3.8 points to 123.9.

Developed by State Street Associates, the research and advisory services business of State Street Global Exchange, the index measures investor confidence or risk appetite quantitatively by analysing the actual buying and selling patterns of institutional investors. Based on actual trades, the greater the percentage allocation to equities, the higher the investor's risk confidence.

A reading of 100 is neutral and indicates investors are neither increasing nor decreasing their long-term allocations to risky assets.