The funds, investment trusts and shares most purchased during 2018 by DIY investors using the AJ Bell Youinvest platform were:
Investment Trusts
- Scottish Investment Trust
- Scottish Mortgage
- Finsbury Growth & Income
- City of London
- RIT Capital
- Witan
- F&C
- Murray International
- Woodford Patient Capital
- Fidelity China Special
Funds
- AJ Bell Passive Funds
- Fundsmith Equity
- Vanguard Lifestrategy Funds
- Lindsell Train Global Equity
- Legg Mason Japan Equity
- Polar Capital Global Technology
- Fidelity Index World
- Woodford Equity
- Lindsell Train UK Equity
- Standard Life Global Smaller Companies
Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, comments:
Funds
“Perennial favourites Fundsmith Equity and Lindsell Train once again featured at the top of the sales charts this year. With increased volatility and more challenging market conditions, their approach on high quality equities once again proved to be very popular.
“Alongside these funds were a variety of growth focused strategies that included US equities with Baillie Gifford American, Japan with Legg Mason Japan Equity and technology via Polar Capital. With clear signs that investors had some confidence to take risk during the year, the Aberdeen Standard Global Smaller Companies fund also made it into the top ten.
“Passive investing continued to prove popular with Vanguard again attracting investors interest while our own passive multi asset funds were also popular.”
Investment trusts
“Investment trusts continue to be very popular with our customers with a variety of global equity trusts being regularly purchased such as Witan, F&C and Scottish Mortgage. The Finsbury Growth & Income Trust managed by Nick Train showed that his investment approach is popular regardless of investment structure.
“Interestingly, the Fidelity China Special Situations Trust made the top ten despite significant challenges in emerging markets and weak absolute performance. The highlight of the investment trust year was without doubt the launch of the Smithson Investment Trust from Fundsmith which captured the interest of investors and is likely to feature on the most purchased list in 2019.”