Best-selling funds, Investment Trusts and ETFs of April 2026

April's markets stage a dramatic revival as investors shrug off the Iran crisis

Markets bounced back sharply in April as corporate earnings season delivered a string of positive surprises. The S&P 500 surged 10.5%, the MSCI World rose 9.6%, and emerging markets leapt 14.7% — powered by Asia's AI infrastructure giants. Taiwan gained 26.2% and South Korea 38.2% as semiconductor stocks roared back to life.

The UK was the exception, with the FTSE 100 falling 3.7% as investors favoured growth over defensives.

Despite the rally, investors remained cautious — cash funds topped best-seller lists for the second consecutive month.

Regional Market Performance

Commodity Market Gold enthusiasm faded as precious metals failed to hedge portfolios during the sell-off. Gold ETCs appeared in fewer numbers than earlier in the year, though still featured across all four platforms.

What Investors Were Buying

Popular Funds

• Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap Index (all four platforms)

• Fidelity Index World (all four platforms)

• Royal London Short Term Money Market Fund (top seller on ii)

• Artemis Global Income

• Lazard Emerging Markets

Top Investment Trusts

• Scottish Mortgage

• Polar Capital Technology

• Seraphim Space Investment Trust

• Greencoat UK Wind

• Henderson Far East Income

Most Popular ETFs

• Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (all platforms)

• iShares Physical Gold ETC

• VanEck Semiconductor

• Amundi Smart Overnight Return ETF

Key Investment Themes

What This Means for Investors April's rally was powerful but narrow — driven largely by AI infrastructure and semiconductors, with the UK left behind. Investors are playing both sides: buying into the tech rebound through global trackers and semiconductor ETFs, whilst keeping meaningful cash positions as a hedge. The message is cautious optimism — participate in the upside, but don't abandon the safety net just yet.

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• Detailed fund performance across all platforms

• Platform-by-platform best-seller breakdowns

• Investment trust and ETF rankings

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This monthly analysis examines the most popular investments purchased across the UK's leading platforms, providing unique insights into retail investor behaviour and market sentiment.