Stay on the attack

Most seasoned retail investors have enjoyed strong performance returns from traditional investments in recent years, and some of them may want to start taking some risk off the table. Perhaps the old saying 'Sell in May and go away' will motivate them to sell some of their mainstream investments; if so, they may be looking to reduce substantially their exposure to UK blue chip equities in the shorter term. Some may even be prepared to broaden their horizons and to consider a wider range of investment alternatives. For others, gilts - and other bonds that are perceived as low risk - would ...