A recent survey of UK retail investors reveals that gold has become the most favored asset class for the coming year, with 58% of respondents expecting its value to rise. This shift reflects growing geopolitical and economic concerns influencing investor sentiment.
Published by Charles Schwab UK, the survey shows gold confidence surpassing traditional benchmarks like the FTSE 100, which only 39% of investors expect to appreciate. Similarly, optimism for the Dow Jones and Nasdaq stands at 40% and 38%, respectively.
The growing appeal of gold coincides with unease over tariff policies and a recent capital gains tax increase that notably exempts physical gold investments. The Royal Mint has observed rising demand for tangible gold assets, including coins and bars.
Younger investors are driving this trend, with 31% increasing their exposure to precious metal stocks in the last quarter. Overall, 73% of all investors regard mining and precious metals companies as solid investment prospects. This sentiment is even stronger among millennials, at 79%, underscoring a generational preference for assets perceived as resistant to inflation and less vulnerable to political risks.
In contrast, only 70% of investors view AI stocks as reliable investments, signaling a broader shift toward defensive portfolio strategies amid uncertain market conditions.
