UK equity ownership lowest in G7 – why Britons need to start investing

The UK’s obsession with property and aversion to equities could be holding investors back

person looking at stock portfolio
(Image credit: Getty Images/Oscar Wong)

UK investors are lagging their global counterparts when it comes to investing in equities, which could be harming their portfolio prospects.

New analysis suggests an obsession with buy-to-let property among UK investors could mean missing out on putting money into the best stocks or building a portfolio of top funds.

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CountryHousingPension fundCashBondsEquities and mutual fundsLife insurance and other annuitiesOther
UK50%19%15%0%8%5%3%
USA26%17%10%3%33%1%9%
Germany57%6%16%1%9%6%5%
France52%12%13%0%13%1%9%
Italy46%9%14%2%19%0%10%
Japan37%16%35%1%9%0%2%
Canada43%15%11%1%22%0%8%
Marc Shoffman
Contributing editor

Marc Shoffman is an award-winning freelance journalist specialising in business, personal finance and property. His work has appeared in print and online publications ranging from FT Business to The Times, Mail on Sunday and the i newspaper. He also co-presents the In For A Penny financial planning podcast.