ISAs  

Isa investors defy Brexit by buying British

Isa investors defy Brexit by buying British

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.

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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