Legg Mason survey: UK investors hold more than third of assets in cash

Some 5,000 investors surveyed

Jayna Rana
clock • 2 min read

UK-based high net worth investors are the most cautious in Europe, with more than a third of their portfolios invested in cash, a survey conducted by Legg Mason has found.

On average, older UK investors (aged 40-75) have cash weightings of more than 36% in their portfolios, in a bid to protect themselves from current market volatility, according to the 2016 Legg Mason Global Investment Survey. This figure exceeds that of any single country in Europe, as well as the European average of 28%. The survey, which polled more than 5,370 high net worth investors across 19 countries, also found UK investors had generally trimmed their allocation to risk assets to raise cash. The average exposure of older UK investors to real estate, for example, currently...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Darius McDermott: Electrification's second act

Darius McDermott: Electrification's second act

Electrification has become a national security question

Darius McDermott
clock 24 August 2026 • 5 min read
What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

WisdomTree’s Mobeen Tahir unpacks the space economy theme

Professional Adviser
clock 14 August 2026 • 1 min read
How markets have developed in 2026 so far

How markets have developed in 2026 so far

'Active allocation does not mean constant trading or short-term market calls'

James Flintoft
clock 12 August 2026 • 3 min read