Pension investors have started the year on an optimistic note – buying into tech funds and growth-biased global equity options.  Highly rated Rathbone Global Opportunities, which features on the Wealth Shortlist, features in the top 10 buys, alongside tech-heavy Blue Whale Growth and Liontrust Global Technology funds. As well as global growth and global income funds, India – which has delivered strong performance over the past 12 months, also proves popular, with Jupiter India, another Wealth Shortlist constituent, the most bought fund across both SIPP and SIPP drawdown clients in January.

Also in the top 10 were two money market funds, as yields remain high, the interest rate proved enticing. Investors should remember that cash has limited long term strategic asset allocation benefits, particularly if you are still in the accumulation stage of your life. Plump instead for a bond fund, where you can benefit from high yields now, and growth later, or an equity income fund – such as Artemis Income or Fidelity Global Dividend in the top buys last month – which offer the potential for income, growth and income growth, if done right.

The trades in part are reflective of the mixed start to 2024 for markets; though both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have voted to hold rates in recent weeks, kicking out expectations of a rate rise further into 2024, US stocks managed modest gains in the first month of the year, and economic data was broadly positive. Both jobs and new home sales data was positive from across the Pond. Closer to home the FTSE 100 posted losses in the first month of the year – which is reflected in the lack of UK funds in the top buys. Inflation also lingered. But rather than shun the domestic market, contrarian investors should consider this a great opportunity to buy at depressed prices.