Stock market volatility has driven more than a fifth of retail investors to move some or all of their money from equities to cash, new research has shown.
Global stock markets have experienced serious shifts in 2025 due to rising geopolitical tensions, international trade policies and general economic uncertainty. While the FTSE 100 has risen over the year to date, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite, Nikkei and Shanghai Composite have all fallen.
According to the research from Investec Save, 21% of investors have already switched money from equities to cash so far this year, with a further 21% planning to do so in the next three months.
Almost one in 10 (9%) investors have moved more than £1,000 from stocks and shares into cash.
The trend was more prevalent among men, with 24% of men shifting their wealth from equities to cash compared to 18% of women.
David Hunt, head of savings at Investec Bank, said: “With global stock markets having a turbulent 2025, many investors are moving their money to safer cash accounts providing more predictable returns.
“This rush to cash shows no signs of stopping. With investment returns so unpredictable, our research shows that large numbers of investors will continue to seek out trusted, reliable places to store and grow their hard-earned wealth.”
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