Investor confidence took a hit across global markets in the first week of August, according to Hargreaves Lansdown’s latest Investor Confidence Index.
The sharpest declines in sentiment were towards the UK, Europe and Japan.
Confidence in UK economic growth fell by more than 16%, reflecting ongoing concerns over the country’s economic trajectory including weak GDP growth and mixed messaging on fiscal plans. Confidence in the UK stock market also slipped at a similar level.
Similarly, confidence in Europe dropped by 16% as signs of economic stagnation and uncertainty over the European Central Bank’s future interest rate decisions weighed on sentiment.
Meanwhile, Japan saw confidence fall by 11%.
Hargreaves Lansdown’s data showed the US saw a more modest decline, against a backdrop of recent strong earnings from major tech firms.
Amongst the top ten funds, actively managed Artemis Global Income held its place at the top of the leaderboard through the early part of August. However, passives remain the most popular choice with investors overall, with the remaining nine funds all index trackers.
The most popular investment trusts were a mixed bag, the investment platform said, with more conventional trusts focussed on areas such as global and European equities, as well as UK equity income, featuring in the top ten.
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