Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Most popular investments: What did private investors buy in October?
Money market funds continued their upbeat streak as investors sought stability in a volatile world, while space-themed funds and stocks remained popular.
Retail investors remained committed to the tech theme despite selloffs in October, while banking stocks were also in vogue.
Money market funds were some of the most sought-after last month with investors seemingly keen to limit risk over the short term before jumping into equities, according to investing platform Interactive Investor (ii).
Meanwhile, global tracker funds proved popular as investors also sought to diversify portfolios through gold and silver.
Start your trial of MoneyWeek today
Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.
Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
UK banking stocks including Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY), NatWest Group (LON:NWG) and Barclays (LON: BARC), were some of the most popular among private investors last month.
Victoria Scholar, head of investment at ii, said: “Third quarter earnings reports released last month drew attention to the sector alongside the Autumn Budget when the chancellor announced plans to increase the bank surcharge, but by less than expected.”
Investors continued buying shares in miner Glencore (LON:GLEN) and aerospace and defence firm Rolls-Royce (LON:RR) in October, with both having been popular choices the previous month too.
Tech stocks continued their positive streak, with Google owner Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and chip-maker Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) sought-after despite a tech selloff late in the month.
“Investors grew concerned about the heavy levels of AI-related spending,” said Scholar. “The Nasdaq ended the month in the red and suffered its biggest one-day percentage decline since June on the final trading day.
“Nevertheless, ii customers continued to buy shares in SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX), Nvidia and Micron (NASDAQ:MU), while Alphabet was a new entrant to the most bought stocks list.”
Kyle Caldwell, funds and investment education expert at ii, said: “One of the biggest debates occupying investors today is whether the enormous sums being spent on AI infrastructure and development will ultimately generate the earnings growth and profits the market is expecting.
“In the main, low-cost global exposure through index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is preferred. Some global tracker funds stick to developed markets, while ‘All-World’ approaches cast their nets wider and include emerging markets.”
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Most-bought active open-ended funds and index funds or ETFs
Ranking
Active Open-Ended Fund
Index Fund or ETF
1
Royal London Short-Term Money Market | Acc
Vanguard FTSE Global All-Cap UCITS ETF USD
2
Artemis Global Income | Acc
Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF
3
Royal London Short-Term Money Market | Dis
Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap Index
4
WS Blue Whale Growth
iShares Physical Gold ETC
5
Artemis SmartGARP Global Equity Fund
HSBC FTSE All World Index
6
Fidelity Cash Fund
Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF | Acc
7
Polar Capital Global Technology
Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity
8
Vanguard Sterling Short-Term Money Market Fund
L&G Global Technology Index
9
Artemis Global Income | Dis
iShares Physical Silver ETC
10
abrdn Sterling Money Market Fund
Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF | Dis
Source: ii (November 2026)
Space-themed investment trusts blast off
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LON:SMT), of which SpaceX is the largest holding (as of 30 September), came top of ii’s list of most popular investment trusts in October.
The trust, which has holdings in companies that invest in satellites and radars, made its way onto ii’s list for the first time alongside BlackRock World Mining Trust (LON:BRWM) and 3i Group (LON:III).
Caldwell said: “Investors have been branching out into different sectors…the various strategies show that investors are casting their nets wide in an attempt to profit and build resilience into portfolios.”
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Most-bought investment trusts
Ranking
Investment Trusts
1
Scottish Mortgage
2
Polar Capital Technology
3
Greencoat UK Wind
4
Henderson FE Income
5
City of London
6
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG)
7
Seraphim Space
8
BlackRock World Mining
9
3i Group
10
International Public Partnerships
Source: ii (November 2026)
Explore More
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
