ii most-bought investments: October 2026
Q3 earnings and Autumn Budget puts spotlight on UK banking stocks, and investor demand for tech stays strong despite recent wobbles.
3rd November 2026 13:57
- UK banking stocks are popular with ii customers, as Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, and Barclays feature in the top 10 most-bought stocks
- Technology gets traction across the board, with the likes of Polar Capital Technology and L&G Global Technology Index featuring in most-bought lists
- Alphabet also entered the most-bought stocks list – its first feature in 2026 so far.
interactive investor (ii), the UK’s leading flat-fee investment platform, reveals its most-bought equities, funds, and investment trusts in October 2026.
Four money market funds featured in the top 10 most-bought active funds in October, with Royal London Short Term Money Mkt Y Acc (B8XYYQ8)once again taking the top spot.
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Polar Capital Global Tech I Inc GBP (B42W4J8) re-entered October’s most popular active funds after not featuring in September, coming in seventh place.
The Vanguard FTSE Global All-Cap ETF USD Acc GBP (LSE:VALL) topped the list of most-bought passive funds/ETFs once again in October. The L&G Global Technology Index I Acc (B0CNH16) re-entered the list in October after not featuring in September, coming in eighth place.
When it comes to investment trusts, Polar Capital Technology Ord (LSE:PCT) moved up one spot in October, now in second place behind Scottish Mortgage Ord (LSE:SMT).
Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY)is the most popular stock in October, moving up from third place in September. NatWest Group (LSE:NWG) re-entered the list in fifth place after not featuring in September’s top 10, and Barclays (LSE:BARC) remained consistent in seventh place.
Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) entered the list in October in fourth place – its first feature in the list in 2026. The likes of Strategy and Greatland Resources dropped off after featuring in September.
Most-bought funds and investment trusts
Commenting on the most-bought funds and investment trusts on interactive investor in October, Kyle Caldwell, Funds and Investment Education Expert comments: “Despite recent tech wobbles, investors remain committed to the theme, with two funds, Polar Capital Global Technology and L&G Global Technology, entering our bestseller list. Meanwhile, Polar Capital Technology moved up from third to second place in the investment trust rankings.
“While long-term returns have been stellar, the tech sector is vulnerable to sudden sell-offs. 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.
“Another longstanding trend is the popularity of money market funds. This indicates that some investors are choosing to keep a portion of their portfolio in cash-like investments that seek to deliver a yield while limiting volatility. Others may be using money market funds as a temporary home for cash before deploying it into equities over time.
“However, investors have also been branching out into different sectors, with four new entrants in the investment trust table in October: Seraphim Space Investment Trust Ord (LSE:SSIT), BlackRock World Mining Trust Ord (LSE:BRWM), 3i Group Ord (LSE:III), and International Public Partnerships Ord (LSE:INPP). The various strategies show that investors are casting their nets wide in an attempt to profit and build resilience into portfolios.”
Most-bought stocks
Commenting on the most-bought stocks on interactive investor in October, Victoria Scholar, Head of Investment says:“UK banking stocks were popular picks among ii customers last month. Lloyds was the most bought stock on the ii platform last month while NatWest and Barclays were also in the top 10. 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.
“ii customers continued to buy other FTSE 100 heavyweights too, like Glencore (LSE:GLEN) and Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE:RR.).
“Crossing the Atlantic, technology stocks faced a choppier month in October as investors grew concerned about the heavy levels of AI-related spending. 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 Space Exploration Technologies Corp Class A (NASDAQ:SPCX), NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU), while Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was a new entrant to the most-bought stocks list.
“Google’s parent company suffered its biggest one-day drop on record on 29 October, wiping off around $500 million (£373 million) from its market capitalisation after reporting weak third-quarter results. Both revenue and earnings were light versus expectations, while its free cash flow came in at a disappointing negative $9.1 billion.”
MOST-BOUGHT INVESTMENTS ON INTERACTIVE INVESTOR (ii) IN OCTOBER 2026
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