PBOC: Shares out of favor with investors

The central bank of the country, also found in the survey that residents are dumping stocks and funds while the share market languishes and property buying has hit a record low.

The central bank says about 16.8 percent of 19,600 respondents surveyed said they favored buying stocks and funds, down 0.8 percent since last quarter. The figure has dropped for three straight quarters.

Meanwhile, the appeal of savings has kept rising for the three straight quarters amid the lackluster capital markets. About 38.1 percent of respondents said they prefer savings, up 12.7 percent from the third quarter of 2007.

The survey also finds that interest in buying property has slumped to a record low level.