Isa investors are defying Brexit uncertainty by buying British in January, according to data from Willis Owen.
With the Isa season now underway, UK assets featured strongly in the best-selling funds and sectors on the Willis Owen platform in January.
The HSBC FTSE All Share Index C was the best-selling fund on the online investment platform, while UK Equity Income topped the sectors table, followed by UK All Companies and Sterling Strategic Bond.
Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investments at Willis Owen, said: "Investors are clearly happy to buy the UK despite Brexit uncertainty.
"They continue to demand income though, which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise as most investors are getting closer to retirement and income remains elusive.
"The interest in Asian equities is also notable given the region suffered in the second half of 2018. Investors have responded to the recent sell-off by seeing it as an opportunity to invest.
"Not all investors are so adventurous, however, and we are still seeing demand for the more cautious asset classes in sterling strategic bonds and mixed assets."
Willis Own Best-Seller List, January 2019
10 Best Selling funds in January | 10 Best Selling Sectors in January |
HSBC FTSE All Share Index | UK Equity Income |
Artemis Monthly Distribution | UK All Companies |
Artemis Strategic Bond | Sterling Strategic Bond |
Fundsmith Equity | Global |
Schroder Asian Alpha Plus | Specialist |
LF Lindsell Train UK Equity | Mixed Investment 20%-60% Shares |
Janus Henderson Preference & Bond | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan |
Artemis Income I Inc | UK Smaller Companies |
Schroder Income Maximiser Z Inc | Asia Pacific Including Japan |
Neptune Latin America C Acc GBP | Europe Excluding UK |
The data also found that LF Lindsell Train UK Equity was the sixth bestselling fund in January.
Alan Chan, chartered financial planner for London-based IFS Wealth & Pensions, said: “The important thing to bear in mind is that just because there is Brexit on the horizon, it doesn't mean there aren’t investment opportunities in UK equities.
"If you don't invest in UK equities, where do else do you go? If you choose anything outside of the UK, there will be the added risk of currency fluctuations, which might not be such a good thing with the pound being quite weak.
"The impact of Brexit is likely to be short term only and so for long term investors they will still be investing in UK equities."
aamina.zafar@ft.com
