In an increasingly volatile environment, a new survey from HSBC shows that businesses and investors are putting greater emphasis on access to technology and capability, greater regional interconnectivity and smarter capital allocation.

In response to global volatility and frequent change, businesses and investors are reassessing where they operate, how they invest and how they manage risk. Consequently, Asia is growing in importance, and technology is reshaping how and where capital is deployed, according to a new survey from HSBC supporting its annual HSBC Global Investment Summit.

The report provides insights from 3,000 senior global leaders, business owners and investors in 10 markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America on how they are responding to the current climate and how this is affecting their plans. It was carried out between 9 and 16 March 2026.

It highlights that global volatility is no longer seen as temporary, but as something that will continue to influence how organisations plan, invest and manage risk. In fact, 95 per cent of businesses and investors view global economic volatility as a feature of the operating environment.

Despite this volatility, sentiment remains conducive. Most decision-makers see strong opportunities for international growth (94 per cent). Many are moving forward by expanding into new markets, reshaping supply chains and adapting their operating models. This is supported by a more confident approach to risk. Eighty-seven per cent of businesses said they are more willing to take calculated risks in pursuit of growth than they were five years ago. At the same time, over half report that their investment horizon has lengthened compared with three years ago, reflecting a shift towards longer-term positioning.

Many businesses see this period as an opportunity to reposition their organisation (88 per cent). Eighty-nine per cent are also increasing capital deployment in high-growth markets, the survey reveals. One of the clearest shifts is the increasing regionalisation of trade and investment; 91 per cent of businesses expect cross-border activity to become more regional in pattern over the next five years.

China, AI
More businesses expect mainland China to become increasingly important to their economic relationships than any other market over the next five years, underlining its role in future growth. Continental Europe and the UK are also seen as key markets for trade, investment and market access, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the US, the report shows.

At the same time, the drivers of growth are evolving. Access to technology and infrastructure (50 per cent) is now as important as market growth and client demand (49 per cent) in shaping international strategy. When considering specific markets in which to increase exposure, the presence of strong artificial intelligence and data-related infrastructure and attractive energy costs (51 per cent) was almost as important as strong growth prospects and customer demand (52 per cent). This is reinforced by how investors are positioning portfolios.

AI and technology are cited as the most important factors influencing portfolio positioning in the current climate (49 per cent), ahead of enhanced risk management and hedging (37 per cent) and geographic diversification (36 per cent). Respondents also expect AI to have a wide range of potential benefits in their business models over the next three years. About half expect productivity gains, better forecasting and increased innovation to have the biggest impact, while a sizeable proportion (32 per cent) expect it to transform their core business model by 2030.

Digital finance is advancing quickly, with 90 per cent of decision-makers expecting adoption to accelerate materially over the next five years. Over half of respondents believe digital and tokenized assets will become core market infrastructure in the same period. But this momentum is not matched by readiness. Almost half of businesses said they do not yet understand how digital finance will impact their organisation, while fewer than four in 10 are actively implementing use cases.

This shift is also reflected in the way capital is being deployed. Eighty-eight per cent of organisations said they have recalibrated their capital allocation approach in response to increased volatility. Alongside this, the role of private capital is growing as it matures into a mainstream asset class of increasing importance to the global economy. Businesses and institutional investors believe that private capital (33 per cent) will exert the greatest influence over global capital allocation in the decade ahead, ahead of public markets and a blended model (both 20 per cent). This reflects demand for longer-term and more flexible funding and signals a shift in the way capital is deployed and controlled.

β€œOur Global Investment Summit survey highlights a structural transformation in the global economy. Trade and investment flows are becoming more regional, Asia is growing in strategic importance, and technology is reshaping how and where capital is deployed. Business leaders and institutional investors are recalibrating where they operate, invest and allocate capital as complexity rises,” Michael Roberts CEO, Corporate and Institutional Banking, HSBC, said.