UK focused funds popular with Barclays stockbrokers fund investors

Analysis from Barclays Stockbrokers has revealed fund investors continued to purchase UK focused funds last month, with 11 of the top 20 purchased funds by clients having a UK focus. Further analysis of September 2013 also revealed a 76 per cent increase in client investment into funds year on year (compared to September 2012).
 
The Cazenove UK Smaller Companies fund was the most purchased fund by clients for the second month in a row. This was followed by fellow UK fund the Unicorn UK Income in second place, which pushed last month's number two, AXA Framlington Biotech fund, into third place.
 
The data also revealed client interest in Europe increased, as markets and wider sentiment rose together. The BlackRock European Dynamic fund rose to fourth place in September, the highest placed European focused fund since February 2013. This was joined in the top twenty by the Threadneedle European Smaller Companies fund.
 
September saw no Global Emerging Markets or Asia Pacific funds in the top ten, the First State Global Emerging Markets fund came in at 18th position following its soft closure coming into force on 6th September. While the First State Asia Pacific fund returned to the top 20 this month, it was very much in the bottom half of the list in 12th place, and the Newton Asian Income fund slipped from eighth in August to 11th in September.
 
Alastair Thaw, Head of Client Engagement and Proposition at Barclays Stockbrokers, said: "The analysis shows our clients are still keeping their fund investments close to home. The UK focus remains the strongest theme for investors, comprising over half the top twenty table for last month, despite a largely flat UK market in September. Client investment into funds has increased too - rising by 76 per cent compared to September 2012 as clients continue to seek investment opportunities and returns from funds."