Revealed: the UK areas most interested in investing

Investing in stocks is for all, without boundaries or any North/South divide.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

View over Old Man Of Storr, Isle Of Skye, Scotland

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

According to CMC Markets, Reading is the home to the keenest investors in the UK. Perhaps putting the ‘Berkshire’ into ‘Berkshire Hathaway‘! (Editor’s note – stick to the day job, Sam)

RankAreaCombined number of monthly investment-related search termsNumber of search terms per 100 thousand people
1.Reading2,6101,613
2.Bristol6,7801,452
3.London122,6801,363
4.Manchester7,4601,348
5.Edinburgh6,2501,185
6.Glasgow6,6501,110
7.Birmingham12,3001,070
8.Nottingham3,5001,056
9.Leicester3,7501,049
10.Newcastle upon Tyne3,0701,023
Source: CMC Markets (search data compiled from Google Ads Keyword Planner)

As you can see from the table above, this information was based on two factors. Firstly, the number of investment-related search queries each month. And secondly, the no. of search queries per 100,000 residents in each area.

“The most frequently searched investment-related term in Reading is ‘stock market’ with 360 average monthly searches, followed by ‘investment’ and ‘interest rate’, which both have 260 average monthly searches.”

An honourable mention must go to Bristol, pipping London (which many must have thought may top the list) to second place. Manchester and Edinburgh made up the top five, showing that investing in stocks is for all, without boundaries or any North/South divide.

Of course, that’s what we encourage here at The Motley Fool. We aim to provide solutions for investors of every kind. Our products and services — whether free or subscription-based — are designed to help people take control of their investments.

My quick takeaway

I find the search queries themselves interesting here, personally. ‘Stock market’ and ‘investment’ are very broad, for instance. To offer a peek behind the editorial curtain, we get many visitors to Fool.co.uk off the back of terms such as ‘Lloyds share price’, ‘FTSE 100’, ‘Cineworld shares’, etc.

To me, this only goes to underscore the vastness of the internet. How information on almost anything is available to us through a few seconds of typing.

Gone are the days of Ask Jeeves and typing full questions into search bars. A niche query is deemed to be as few as three words these days! What’s more, there are tailored news feeds to best serve us based on our interests: Google Discover, Flipboard, etc and so forth.

Excuse my whimsical trip down memory lane today, but I just wanted to shine a light on the powerful research tools that we have at our disposal.

And that’s why we do what we do here.

It is our firm belief that it serves every investor’s best interest to encounter and consider opposing viewpoints. Only by considering both sides of an argument — bull and bear, for instance — can someone come to a properly informed decision about whether to buy, or perhaps sell, a particular share.

To your investing!

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

2 UK shares that could rise if Trump wins the Presidential election

These UK shares are among the FTSE 100's most popular stocks. And they could rise in value if Donald Trump…

Read more »

Closeup ruffled American flag representing US stocks and shares
Investing Articles

2 UK stocks that could rise if Harris wins the Presidential election

Royston Wild believes these UK stocks could receive a bump if Kalama Harris wins the Presidency, giving their share prices…

Read more »

Investing Articles

After a 96% plunge, is buying more Aston Martin shares throwing good money after bad?

Just two weeks after buying Aston Martin shares Harvey Jones found himself nursing a painful loss. Yet after recent news…

Read more »

Investing Articles

After crashing 45% in October, should I buy this FTSE 250 share for my Stocks and Shares ISA?

Roland Head explains why he’s tempted to add this risky FTSE 250 turnaround share to his Stocks and Shares ISA…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Could I use a stock market crash to turn £20k into half a mil in just over a decade?

A stock market crash might sound terrifying to some but it can also present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accumulate generational…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Recently released: October’s small-cap stock recommendation [PREMIUM PICKS]

We believe the UK small-cap market offers a myriad of opportunities across a wide range of different businesses and industries.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how a Stocks and Shares ISA and Lifetime ISA could supercharge my wealth!

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) can help UK share investors take their earnings to the next level. And their importance is…

Read more »

A person holding onto a fan of twenty pound notes
Investing Articles

A high-yield dividend ETF and an investment trust to consider this November!

Investors wanting to boost their passive income could benefit from investigating these high-yield funds and trusts, says Royston Wild.

Read more »