A Scottish Widows survey found that 30% of UK investors contributed more to their portfolios than usual in the first quarter of 2026. However, the same survey indicated that 14% of UK investors plan to invest less in the next three months as of March 2026. Living costs and changes in personal circumstances were common factors influencing investment changes in the past three months, according to the Scottish Widows survey.
The conflict in the Middle East has prompted volatility in financial markets and concerns over rising prices, multiple reports indicate. An Investment Week article reported that 63% of UK investors do not know what they are paying in investment fees, despite low charges being a number one priority for them. Rathbones data shows that 31% of UK investors prefer to have ethical or sustainable investments even if it reduces their financial returns.
It remains unclear what specific geopolitical events beyond the Middle East conflict are affecting investor decisions in Q1 2026. It also remains unclear how investment behaviors differ across demographic groups such as age, income, or region among UK investors.