Young Chinese need to plan for retirement, says insurer

The return expectations of many Chinese investors have dropped while property investment remains a priority among younger investors in terms of financial planning, a survey showed on Thursday.

The expectations for the rate of investment returns have dropped to 7.8 percent this year, down from 8.2 percent last year as Chinese investors become increasingly cautious, according to a survey by Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co Ltd, a Sino-Canadian joint-venture insurer.

Chinese investors have also shown a stronger willingness to invest in cash-related products rather than equities and bonds, reflecting a decreasing risk appetite amid greater economic uncertainty, the survey shows.