New data from Freetrade has shown that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) giving exposure to short-term bonds have been some of the most popular destination for savers’ cash recently.

Potential benefits include an attractive yield and relatively safe return, though any investor ought to be aware that dividends can be cut at any time of course.

Important considerations

According to Freetrade, when considering an investment in one of the below ETFs, “you’re typically buying exposure to debt issued by the US government and maturing in under 12 months.

“The likelihood of the US government defaulting on these debts is generally considered close to nil – for good reason, the rate set by the Fed is typically referred to as the “risk free rate” and sets a hurdle for performance above which investors will demand of any riskier asset (like equities).

“Nevertheless, you should be aware that funds like these can be subject to pressures if there’s a sudden dash for cash (like we saw at the start of the pandemic in March 2020).”

Based on the total value of trades from September 2022 to March 2023, here are three of the most popular ETFs for Freetrade’s investors.

iShares $ Treasury Bond 1-3yr UCITS ETF

“This ETF seeks to track the performance of the ICE U.S. Treasury Short Bond Index, which includes U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities between 1 and 3 years. It is denominated in USD and trades on the London Stock Exchange. Performance in 2022 was 8.05% as short-dated bonds rallied and rates rose. Currently it’s yielding 1.86%.”

Invesco US Treasury Bond 1-3 Year UCITS ETF

“This ETF aims to replicate the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Term Index, which measures the performance of U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities between 1 and 3 years. It is denominated in USD and also trades on the London Stock Exchange. This ETF returned 7.75% in 2022 and is down modestly 1.47% YTD. It’s yielding 2.85%.”

Lyxor Fed Funds US Dollar Cash UCITS ETF

“The Lyxor Fed Funds US Dollar Cash UCITS ETF – Acc seeks to track the Solactive Fed Funds Effective Rate index, which tracks a daily rolling exposure to the Federal Funds Effective Rate, the benchmark short-term money market interest rate in the US. With the US dollar strengthening in 2022, this fund returned a whopping 13.88% (!) but so far in 2023, it’s down a modest 1.86%.”

The post 3 ETFs with exposure to short-term bonds popular with Freetrade investors appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

Here’s a quick bullet-point list of the main stock market movers on the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and AIM markets today, with live data updating throughout the day.

• On the Footsie — which hit a record close of 7,947 last night — Coca-Cola HBC AG reported annual growth in its 2022 financial results, “driven by price, mix and volume” and record levels of revenue. The share price shot up 4% immediately after 8am. Elsewhere, Flutter Entertainment also saw its shares rise by a similar amount.
• Amongst the biggest risers in the morning on the mid-cap market was TUI (up 3% in early trade) following re-confirmation of expectations to significantly increase underlying earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for FY23 backed by “encouraging booking momentum across both Winter and Summer seasons“. Meanwhile, Plus500 released positive final results alongside an additional $100m in shareholder returns, with its shares lifting over 2% when the market opened.
• Finally, Altitude Group shares– trading on the famously volatile AIM All-Share — flew over 7% in early trade.
• Based on their daily trade volume, Glencore and Greatland Gold were among the most active stocks on the markets first thing.

Market movers on the LSE today

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The post FTSE 100 live: market movers on Tuesday 14th February appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

One of Saxo’s leading market analysts, Jessica Amir, has highlighted five stocks to watch next week based on timely newsflow.

Albemarle

“Albemarle is the world’s biggest lithium producing company by market size with a US$31.3 billion valuation. It has one the broadest customer groups, selling to Toyota, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and GM, and Panasonic. Albemarle is due to report financial results on February 16 as well as its outlook, which will be very telling for the lithium industry.”

BHP

“BHP is the biggest mining company in the world by market size, with an AUD$243 billion valuation. BHP has historically generated some of the strongest cashflows across the globe. Given this, it’s also been able to pay some of the highest dividends in the world, consistently. Consensus expects BHP to pay a full-year gross dividend yield of 14%. For the last reporting period BHP made about 48.7% of its revenue from iron ore, 26.7% from copper and 24.6% from coal. BHP is also attempting to take over copper giant, Oz Minerals, while also moving into fertilisers – with plans to be the biggest fertiliser company in the world. BHP reports full year financial results on February 21 as well as its outlook. Which will give us a further glimpse into future demand for copper, as well as iron ore.”

Pilbara Minerals

“Pilbara Minerals is Australia’s largest lithium miner. It has a market value of AU$14 billion. Pilbara’s customers include LG Chem, and China’s Great Wall Motor Company. And believe it or not, one of Pilbara Minerals customers is actually China’s Genfeng Lithium Corp, which is China’s largest lithium company. Pilbara is due to report financial results on February 22.”

Rio Tinto

“Rio Tinto is the second biggest diversified miner in the world, with an $178 billion valuation. Last reporting year Rio made 58.1% of its revenue from iron ore, 21.5% from aluminium and 10.9% from copper, and the remainder from other metals. Rio is expected to pay a full-year gross dividend yield of about 11% this year. Rio reports full year financial results on February 22 and its outlook for 2023, which will be interesting given it’s a major aluminium producer.”

Southern Copper

“Southern Copper Corp is another large copper miner. It’s not as large as BHP or RIO in size but its market cap size is US$57.3 billion. Last reporting year it made most of its revenue from copper. The market expects Southern Copperto pay a full year gross dividend yield of 5.3% this year.”

The post 5 stocks to watch next week appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

Here’s a quick bullet-point list of the main stock market movers on the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and AIM markets today.

• On the Footsie, BP trod the same path as Shell did last week by announcing an annual profit of £23bn ($27.7bn), the biggest in the company’s lifetime and over double 2021’s profit ($12.8bn). The oil and gas firm also launched a $2.75bn buyback scheme, while increasing its dividend payout by 10%. BP’s shares rose over 3.5% when the market opened at 8am.
• Amongst the biggest risers in the morning on the mid-cap market was 4imprint (up 6% in early trade). Meanwhile, Genus released interims that didn’t cause much movement in its share price initially.
• Finally, Alumasc Group — trading on the famously volatile AIM All-Share — released its interim results without much impact on its shares. Elsewhere, Deepverge saw share-price gains of around 20%, while Begbies Traynor slipped by 5%.
• Based on their daily trade volume, BP and Diageo were the most active stocks on the markets first thing.

Market movers on the LSE today

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The post FTSE 100 today: market movers on Tuesday 7th February appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Begbies Traynor Group Plc and Diageo Plc. 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.

• On the Footsie, increased gas prices meant that shares in Shell edged higher by around 1% after announcing its largest ever annual profit alongside a $4bn share buyback programme. Elsewhere, the BT share price dipped by more than 3% after both revenue and profits slid. Meanwhile, WPP was the FTSE 100’s “winner” this morning, its shares bouncing up close to 5%.
• Amongst the biggest risers in the morning on the mid-cap market were travel stocks Wizz Air and Carnival, both up around 5% in early trade.
• Finally, Watkin Jones shares — trading on the AIM UK 50 index — fell by almost 4%. The 88 Energy share price also plunged as the market opened, by around 9% initially before recovering some of that lost ground.
• Based on their daily trade volume, Shell and AstraZeneca were the most active stocks on the markets first thing.

Market movers on the LSE today

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The post FTSE 100 today: market movers on Thursday 2nd February appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Watkin Jones Plc. 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.

• On the Footsie, Vodafone saw a dip of around 3% in its share price in early trade after European revenues disappointed, despite decent performance in the UK. Elsewhere, optimism for GSK was likely already baked into its share price, which didn’t move too much after announcing annual operating profits of £8.15bn, which marked growth of 14%.
• Amongst the biggest risers in the morning on the mid-cap market was ITV (up over 3% in early trade), although its share price is still down 25% over the past 12 months.
• Finally, Vast Resources shares — trading on the famously volatile AIM All-Share — jumped up almost 20% following significant momentum over the past two trading days, which has led to a c.300% spike in the last week. Trident Royalties‘ share price also soared by double digits (around 10% initially), as did Harland & Wolff Group for a 15% gain.
• Based on their daily trade volume, HSBC and Vodafone were the most active stocks on the markets first thing.

Market movers on the LSE today

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The post FTSE 100 today: market movers on Wednesday 1st February appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended GSK, HSBC Holdings, ITV, and Vodafone Group Public. 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.

This week started strong for UK stocks, with the FTSE 100 seeing its fifth consecutive day of gains in the new year. It ended trading on Monday at 7,724.94 points.

Some would say that’s pretty impressive for the leading index in a country whose chancellor has confirmed is in a recession — one which many commentators say is set to be the deepest on record for many years, potentially ever.

Many believe the markets are in for a huge drop. No-one has a crystal ball, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I remain optimistic on the prospects of stock-picking right now.

One reason is because markets are quick to price in bad news. For instance, recall when Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng set out their “bold plan” to cut taxes and grow the economy. Too bold, as it turned out. Warnings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pushing the FTSE 100 down to 12-month lows.

We all know what happened next, while the Footsie rebounded sharply in the aftermath as well.

So my personal opinion is that stock markets are already prepared for bad news. Of course, they may dip somewhat if companies consistently and collectively report worse-than-expected news during earnings season.

But the inverse is also true. And among the first few to release their results in the first week of 2023, there were some better-than-hoped-for figures (from the likes of Next). So initial signs are good, I believe.

Be prepared

Additionally, here at The Motley Fool, we are long-term investors. If — and at this stage, I think it’s a big ‘if’ — the FTSE 100 and other UK stock markets do plunge again in 2023, then I’m mentally prepared for that.

Because when buying shares in, and thus owning part of a company, I’m doing so not for any number of months until the end of the year. No, I’m in it for the long haul: three to five years, minimum. But ideally, for decades! I’m happiest when I’m doing very little, and my money is working for me.

And that’s why it’s important to trust in the long-term future of a business when investing in it. It’s vital to understand the sector, and the company’s position within that. For example, whether it’s a market leader or potential disruptor.

We Fools — capital F, of course — understand that, historically, markets go up. Check out charts of the FTSE 100 since inception if you don’t believe me! And we also have faith that knowing a good business inside out can lead to market-beating returns. Regardless of any temporary blips caused by external factors.

So, to sum up, I’m of a mind to take heart from the Footsie’s fresh highs in approaching half a decade, despite current economic conditions. When friends ask me whether it’s a good time to buy shares in quality companies, I respond that, for me, the answer is the same as ever: always!

The post Tell a friend: yesterday, the FTSE 100 closed at its highest point in almost 4.5 years! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

Every now and then, I turn to Twitter and ask a question related to investing. I know I can count on Fools to put a smile on my face when I do!

Today, I wanted to share a few of the responses to the query I’ve posed in this article’s headline. Take a look to see which seem familiar to you…

1) Not impressed with Independent Financial Advisors

This is a great example of something that’s at the core of our investing strategy: we believe that the person best positioned to take care of your financial future is you. We also recognise how fees can stack up, which is why we aim to help people take control of their investments themselves.

2) Potential returns

Over the long term, the average annual growth of the stock market is about 7% after inflation. At that growth rate, invested assets double in value about every 10.5 years. Meanwhile, savings provide negative returns after inflation.

Of course, your savings account balance doesn’t fluctuate in response to external factors while the value of your stocks can lose value. But we believe in a long-term outlook, helping people build wealth over time.

3) Prepare for a comfortable retirement

According to a recent survey, ‘investing for retirement’ is the second most-common reason for investing in the stock market, behind ‘a good ROI’. Of those surveyed, 36% said retirement was the main purpose of partaking.

And that’s my reason, too. Can we rely on what the State Pension will give us? I’m not sure, so I’d rather plan for a retirement on my terms.

The post What made you start investing in the first place? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

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)}

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!

The post Revealed: the UK areas most interested in investing appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.

One of Saxo’s leading market analysts, Jessica Amir, has highlighted five stocks to watch next week based on timely newsflow.

McDonald’s

“Recession-stalwart McDonald’s has been outperforming the market this year, as it typically does in tough markets. McDonald’s reported stronger quarterly sales than the market expected, showing its somewhat defying inflationary pressures. McDonald’s put its strong sales down to the McRib burger. With the CEO saying it’s the “the greatest of all time” seller and the McRib to soon be available in the UK for Halloween, being released on October 31. That’s something to sink your teeth into.”

Boeing

“Boeing shares have underperformed this year, falling 33%, however, the question is, could its business be turning around? The company released a bullish 20-year forecast for China’s commercial jet market, saying China will need to double its fleet in two decades with Boeing saying China will be a major driver of its sales. Boeing sees China needing almost 8,500 new passenger and freighter planes valued at $1.5 trillion through 2041. So that’s something to think about.”

Macquarie Group

“Macquarie Group is Australia’s biggest investment bank and reported profit results that beat market forecasts, with market volatility buoying its commodities and global market trading businesses. Macquarie’s net income for the half year rose to A$2.31 billion up from A$2 billion in the prior year. That also beat the forecast, so its shares rose as a result. But here is something to consider; when commodity and market volatility picks up, we typically see financial trading businesses benefit. So, it could be worth keeping an eye on Macquarie.”

Computershare

“Computershare is a share registry business, which you may have heard of if you’ve ever bought or sold shares. You may have received their statements in the mail, for share purchase plans perhaps. Computershare shares have been outperforming the market, they are up 21% this year. Businesses like Computershare also are highly leveraged to rising interest rates, meaning, their earnings typically rise when interest rates do. In 2022, consensus (or the market) upgraded Computershare’s 2023 earnings by 42%, but Bloomberg is even more optimistic, expecting more earnings upside.”

Marathon Oil

“Marathon Oil (MAR) is one of the best performing stocks in the US this year, trading up 87%. It’s due to report financial results in November. It’s also worth noting that our chief commodity strategist Ole Hansen has been expecting oil margins to rise again, given the oil price is moving up, with the oil market in tight supply and worried about the escalating prices of fuel in the northern hemisphere winter. So that means, oil companies like Marathon could continue to gain momentum.”

Please note that you’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool UK’s Premium Investing Services.

The post Saxo’s top 5 stocks to watch next week appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

• A new risk has emerged for Rolls-Royce and it could send the share price back to 1,010p
• Here’s how Britons can invest in SpaceX on the FTSE 100
• The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?
• These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026
• More oil wobbles as the BP share price dives 7% in a day!

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.