ING Investment Management released its Investor Dashboard Sentiment Index for Asia (outside Japan) this week and found investors’ moods turning dark. They’re more worried today about growth prospects, inflation, return on capital and government policies. The overall sentiment index is down 11% compared to the third quarter of 2010. It’s still in “optimistic” territory, but at the bottom of that range, according to ING. Pranay Gupta, chief investment officer, Asia-Pacific for ING Investment Management recently spoke with the WSJ’s Alex Frangos.

Standard Chartered Group Chairman John Peace is taking a quick break from his summer vacation for work in Hong Kong, but don’t expect any major announcements from the U.K.-based lender.