- 81% of UK retail investors are confident in their investments, compared with just 35% who feel confident about the UK economy
- Millennials are entering the market after smaller falls, with 32% prepared to buy after a 5-10% decline, up from 26% a year ago
05 August 2026: UK retail investors are more than twice as confident in their own portfolios as they are in the domestic economy, according to the latest quarterly Retail Investor Beat from trading and investing platform etoro.
The study of 1,000 UK retail investors found that 81% feel confident about their investments, compared with just 35% who feel confident about the UK economy, with nearly two-thirds of UK investors, 62%, believing they are achieving or are on track to achieve their primary investing goals, up slightly from 60% a year ago.
Confidence is being accompanied by continued investment activity. Over the previous three months, 31% of UK investors increased the amount they contributed to their portfolios, while only 5% reduced their contributions. 34% expected to increase their portfolio contributions over the following three months. Just 4% expected to reduce them.
Dan Moczulski, Managing Director, etoro UK, said: “UK investors have more confidence in their own financial plans than they do in the UK economy, and that makes sense. They cannot control growth, inflation or interest rates, but they can control how consistently they invest, how diversified they are and whether they stay focused on their long-term goals. The message from the data is clear, UK investors are backing their own judgement rather than waiting for the economic outlook to improve.”
Cash and markets, rather than cash or markets
With interest rates remaining elevated, there has not been a broad retreat from investing. More than half of UK investors, 56%, say the current rate environment has not changed their investment plans. A further 26% plan to increase their contributions, while 12% intend to invest less. However, the findings do not indicate an indiscriminate move towards risk.
When asked where they would be most likely to increase allocations in the current rate environment, cash or short-term savings was the leading answer, selected by 30%. This was followed by stocks in growth sectors at 25% and commodities such as gold or oil at 19%.
Dan Moczulski continued: “The idea that Britain must choose between being a nation of savers or a nation of investors is outdated. Sensible people do both, using cash for security and flexibility while investing for longer-term growth. Current interest rates have made cash more useful, but they have not removed the need to put money to work.”
Millennials move earlier when markets fall
UK investors who buy during market declines are primarily motivated by longer-term considerations. Top factors for buying the dip are investing for the long term (48%), investing at lower valuations (42%), with strong company fundamentals and short-term market rebounds both cited by 30%.
The shift towards acting after smaller market falls is particularly strong among millennials. Nearly a third, 32%, would now buy after a market decline of 5-10%, up from 26% in Q2 2025.
Meanwhile, the proportion waiting for a decline of more than 20% has fallen from 15% to 10%. An 11-20% correction remains the most common trigger among millennials, selected by 34%.
Long-term investing is the leading reason millennials give for buying during market declines, cited by 55%. This is followed by the opportunity to buy at lower valuations at 39%, confidence in strong company fundamentals at 38%, expectations of a short-term rebound at 30%, and following a disciplined investment strategy at 29%.
Dan Moczulski said: “The stereotype that millennials are simply chasing quick returns does not stand up to the data. They are buying earlier when valuations improve, but their leading motivation remains investing for the long term. That suggests a more pragmatic generation of investors, one that is prepared to act without pretending it can call the exact bottom of the market.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The latest Retail Investor Beat was based on a survey of 11,000 retail investors across 13 countries and 3 continents. The following countries had 1,000 respondents: UK, US, Germany, France, Australia, Singapore, Italy and Spain. The following countries had 600 respondents: Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
The survey was conducted from 14 – 29 May 2026 and carried out by research company Opinium. Retail investors were defined as self-directed or advised and had to hold at least one investment product including shares, bonds, funds, investment ISAs or equivalent. They did not need to be etoro users.
The figures and results presented in this survey are based on the responses of participants at the time the survey was conducted. They reflect responders’ opinions, views and perceptions and should not be interpreted as investment advice or a guarantee of future performance. Percentages and results may not be representative of the broader population and are subject to change as market conditions and sentiment evolve.
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