The analysis revealed April saw clients investment activity into funds (by total size of investments) at a level more than double that seen in April 2012 (110% increase) and a 16% increase compared to March 2013.
The findings for the month of April 2013 also highlighted the top twenty fund purchases1 made by clients, and found that the Global Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific (including Japan) sectors featured prominently in the top 10. The Legg Mason Japan Equity fund took the top spot for client investment in April, with the Newton Asian Income fund in second spot and the First State Global Emerging Markets Leaders fund in third place.
Client appetite for UK funds in April remained consistent with previous months, accounting for 40% of entries in the list of the 20 top purchased funds; April also saw a diverse focus of client interest with funds from Specialist, European, North American and Global sectors appearing in addition. With gold prices at their lowest level for two years, the Blackrock Gold & General fund returned to the list in 20th place.
Further analysis found April 2013 saw a 72% increase in the number of clients buying funds compared to the same month last year.
Alastair Thaw, Head of Investor Product at Barclays Stockbrokers, said:
"We saw a strong start to the new tax year for our clients investing into funds, and while UK funds continued to dominate the top 20 purchased funds, clients continue to show interest in other markets too. For example as Japanese markets continued their gains of the last six months, we saw the Legg Mason Japan Equity fund prove popular as the most purchased fund by clients in April.
"For the last year Barclays Stockbrokers clients have benefitted from our enhanced funds offering. Last February we combined our experience and expertise in stock broking with an expanded funds offering in a single place, meaning investors have a choice of a wide range of funds which they can access with ease and at competitive prices.
With our regular investment service, investors can choose to add lump sums or drip feed sums into the market over time to build up their investments and maximise tax efficient benefits too, particularly in the new tax year for 2013/14. We have seen growing appetite from our clients for investing in funds, and anticipate this will continue throughout 2013."
