Singing in the rain: most Asians remain confident they will achieve their financial goals.(Life: Asian Markets)(Survey)(Statistical data)

A strong savings tradition has shielded Asians from the global financial storm and kept confidence levels high for meeting long-term financial goals in most of the region's countries.

HSBC Insurance (Asia) Ltd. found in a survey that Asians saved at least one-third of monthly personal income for savings, insurance, pensions and investment.

Mainland Chinese saved 40% of their income every month; South Koreans, 36%; and Indians, Singaporeans and Taiwanese, 35%, according to HSBC's survey. The study was conducted in April with 2,974 respondents, age 35 to 65 years, in China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Asian consumers are the "king of …