Apple tops the list of ‘dream stocks'

Barclays Stockbrokers clients have revealed the global companies they would hold in their ‘dream portfolio'. Research from the UK's largest execution-only stockbroker, reveals Apple tops the list of investor ‘dream stocks', with half of the respondents (47%) choosing it for a dream portfolio. One quarter (24%) selected BP, and one in ten favoured healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline.

When asked about the types of companies and sectors that interest them when investing internationally, clients voted overwhelmingly in favour of oil and gas companies (64%) with the mining sector taking second place with 11% of the votes.

Paul Inkster, Head of Product, Barclays Stockbrokers, said: "The demand for investing internationally is growing strongly amongst our clients, and the appetite for such a broad range of sectors and markets is encouraging. Our clients have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to global stocks."

Barclays Stockbrokers recently added five new markets to its International Trader platform: Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Denmark and Norway. Respondents were asked which of the markets they find most interesting; Hong Kong, Asia's second largest exchange, proved most popular, taking 34% of the votes and Australia, with its wealth of mining and natural resources stocks, came a close second with a third of respondents (33%). Singapore was next at 22%.

With the new market additions, investors can now access over 12,000 stocks on 26 major global exchanges across 18 international markets. The platform is supported by market-leading global research and real-time pricing. To ensure investors have everything they need at their fingertips, Barclays Stockbrokers International Trader also offers market news streamed live from Dow Jones and Market News International, and charting and analytical tools.

Paul Inkster continued: "International Trader is ideal for self-directed clients who prefer to pick their own stocks and seek opportunities in global markets. With the addition of these new exchanges, there are now even more opportunities for our clients to invest in the companies and sectors that really interest them. The online platform is truly state-of-the-art and provides efficient, cost-effective access to developed global equity markets, as well as allowing investors to tailor the platform to suit their own individual needs and tastes."

For those markets not covered by International Trader, such as some of the emerging economies, investors can still achieve exposure using existing methods, such as ETFs, managed funds and CFDs / FST.