Share your opinion and earn yourself a free Motley Fool premium report!

We are looking for Fools to join a 75 minute online independent market research forum on 15th / 16th December.

To find out more and express your interest please click here

These were the top shares UK traders were buying and selling last week!

Here are the shares that were attracting the most buying and selling interest from UK investors on the FinecoBank trading platform last week.

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.

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.

When you’re searching for investing inspiration, it’s always useful to see the shares that other UK investors are buying and selling.

Not to copy their moves, but the insights can tell you a lot about big-picture market movements, highlighting sectors or businesses you may have overlooked.

Top movers for UK investors buying and selling shares

To get your investment juices flowing, here’s a peek behind the curtain to see the top movers on the FinecoBank platform last week:

  1. Melrose Industries 100% Buy
  2. moneysupermarket.com  56% Buy, 44% Sell
  3. RELX 100% Buy
  4. Bluejay Mining  100% Buy
  5. Marks and Spencer Group  100% Buy
  6. Centrica  51% Buy 49%, Sell 51%
  7. EQTEC  100% Buy
  8. KEFI Gold and Copper  100% Buy
  9. Pan African Resources  100% Sell
  10. IOG  100% Buy

What we know about the shares investors were buying

If you look closely, you’ll notice some overarching patterns in the shares that investors are choosing to pump money into right now.

Buying interest has been steadily increasing for firms in sectors such as manufacturing and infrastructure, alongside energy and commodities. This includes the likes of:

  • Melrose Industries
  • Bluejay Mining
  • EQTEC
  • KEFI Gold and Copper
  • IOG

Against the current backdrop of high inflation, rising interest rates and ongoing supply squeezes, these are the sort of investments that investors are choosing to diversify and round out their portfolios.

What we know about the shares UK investors were selling last week

Here’s what we know about the shares being sold last week:

moneysupermarket.com

These shares have had a tough few years. With the price continuing in its wider decline, plenty of investors see no hope and 44% were selling their shares.

But, the remaining hopeful bunch of buyers believe there’s still opportunity for a rebound as travel returns and perhaps an eventual comeback of competitive energy tariffs.

Centrica

This is a firm that’s divided UK investors for some time now. However, the owner of British Gas has seen some solid profits lately, and the price has been on a steady uptrend.

Nevertheless, 49% of investors chose to sell shares last week, perhaps banking some short-term profit.

Pan African Resources

Following a renewed interest in gold and mining, the share price is up by over 40% in the last six months. But, this didn’t stop 100% of traders selling their shares last week.

I think this is some smart money being taken off the table, diversifying profits elsewhere after such significant growth.

Why it’s important to pick out the right shares and investments to diversify

I know that many of you may have been concentrating too much of your portfolio on tech in recent years, I certainly did!

With rock-bottom interest rates and a somewhat deflationary environment, tech and growth stocks have had a booming run.

It’s difficult to stay diversified when one sector seems to be on a never-ending upward trajectory. But, everything changes and nothing stays the same, especially in the markets!

So, try and make sure you build in some diversification so that you’re always prepared for economic shifts and changes to investing sentiment.

George Sweeney has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Melrose, Moneysupermarket.com, and RELX. 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

Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
US Stock

I asked ChatGPT for the juiciest growth share for 2026, and it said…

Jon Smith is rather unimpressed with the growth share that ChatGPT presents to him, and explains his reasons why in…

Read more »

Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Dividend Shares

Here’s a stock lurking in the FTSE 100 with a 9% dividend yield forecast

Jon Smith highlights a FTSE 100 company that he thinks has been in the headlights for share price growth recently…

Read more »

Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

Could a 2026 stock market crash be on its way?

Will the stock market crash next year? Nobody knows for sure, including our writer. Here's what he's doing now to…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to target a £5,555 monthly passive income?

Muhammad Cheema explains how an investor could target £5,555 in monthly passive income over time by making use of a…

Read more »

Little girl helping her Grandad plant tomatoes in a greenhouse in his garden.
Investing Articles

With single-digit P/E ratios, here are 3 of the FTSE 100’s cheapest-looking shares!

Only a few FTSE 100 shares are trading at single digit-multiples of earnings! And our Foolish author has highlighted what…

Read more »

Friends at the bay near the village of Diabaig on the side of Loch Torridon in Wester Ross, Scotland. They are taking a break from their bike ride to relax and chat. They are laughing together.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to earn a £33,333 passive income?

Discover how to target a five-figure passive income in a Stocks and Shares ISA -- and a top 7.6%-yielding dividend…

Read more »

Tariffs and Global Economic Supply Chains
Investing Articles

Did Donald Trump just deliver fantastic news for Nvidia stock?

With artificial intelligence chip sales set to resume in China, is Nvidia stock worth looking at while it's trading under…

Read more »

A rear view of a female in a bright yellow coat walking along the historic street known as The Shambles in York, UK which is a popular tourist destination in this Yorkshire city.
Market Movers

£20,000 of British American Tobacco shares could generate dividends of…

British American Tobacco shares are tipped to deliver more huge dividends over the next three years. Does this make them…

Read more »