Global private wealth hits $152tn

The amount of private wealth held by households globally surged more than 14% to $152 trillion (£90tn) last year, boosted mainly by rising stock markets, the BBC reports.

Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, led the surge with a 31% jump to $37tn.

The number of millionaire households also rose sharply, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group.

The report takes into account cash, deposits, shares and other assets held by households. But businesses, real estate and luxury goods are excluded.

"In nearly all countries, the growth of private wealth was driven by the strong rebound in equity markets that began in the second half of 2012,"the firm said in its report.

"This performance was spurred by relative economic stability in Europe and the US and signs of recovery in some European countries, such as Ireland, Spain and Portugal."

The amount of wealth held in equities globally grew by 28% during the year, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said.

Economies in Asia have been key drivers of global growth in the recent years. And households in the region have benefitted from this growth.

Within the region, China has been the biggest driver - with private wealth in the country surging more than 49% in 2013.

High saving rates in countries such as China and India has also been a key contributing factor to this surge.

The wealth held in the region is expected to rise further, to nearly $61tn by the end of 2018.

"At this pace, the region is expected to overtake Western Europe as the second-wealthiest region in 2014, and North America as the wealthiest in 2018," BCG said.

The pace of wealth creation in China was also evident in the growth in the number of millionaire households - in US dollar terms - in the country, rising to 2.4 million in 2013, from 1.5 million a year ago.

Overall, the total number of millionaire households in the world rose to 16.3 million in 2013, from 13.7 million in 2012.

According to the report, private wealth in:

• North America rose by 15.6% to $50.3tn

• Western Europe, which includes UK, Germany and France, rose by 5.2% to $37.9tn

• Eastern Europe, which includes Russia, Poland and Czech Republic, jumped by 17.2% to $2.7tn

• Latin America rose by 11.1% to $3.9tn

• Middle East region increased by 11.6% to reach $5.2tn