Few investors in British Columbia hold foreign investments within their portfolios, according to the results of a Scotiabank survey released today.
Of those surveyed, only 25% of respondents from B.C. reported holdings in non-Canadian assets, compared with the national average of 28%.
“It’s interesting that the number of Canadians holding foreign investments is so low given the size of the Canadian investment community,” said Vincent Delisle, Scotiabank’s managing director of portfolio strategy. “Depending on your financial goals, non-Canadian assets can be a great way to diversify and optimize investment portfolios.”
The survey showed 44% of British Columbians said they believe Asia has strong growth potential, compared with 39% nationwide.
Other regions identified by B.C. investors as having growth potential are:
- South America – 13% (Canada-wide: 15%);
- United States – 11% (13%); and
- Europe – 8% (8%).
The poll also revealed that men are almost 40% more likely than women (32% compared with 23%) to hold foreign investments.
