THE net flow of retail investor money into unit trust and mutual funds marketed in the territory topped US$1 billion for the first time last year, official figures show.
The activity report on the year showed retail investment at a five-year high, said the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association.
Total sales - the amount of money flowing into the funds - during the year were $3.59 billion.
Redemptions - the amount of money flowing out - totalled $2.59 billion.
This left the industry's net sales at the end of the year at US$1.003 billion.
''Compared with 1992, gross and net sales in 1993 increased by 115 per cent and 596 per cent respectively,'' said the association.
The exceptional figures were given an extra boost by some frenzied retail activity in December.