UK investors buck global optimism but lead the world in AI adoption

Saxo Investor Forecast report: UK investors buck global optimism but lead the world in AI adoption

• UK investors more cautious than global peers
• UK leads the way in AI adoption
• Diversification remains a priority
• Geopolitical tensions influence investment strategy
• Saxo hits 1.4M clients, driving record €118B in assets

UK investors are bucking global optimism, showing the most cautious outlook on equities for Q4 2025, yet leading the world in AI adoption and being second in portfolio diversification, according to Saxo, the leader in online trading and investment, and its inaugural Investor Forecast Q4 2025.

The global report* surveyed over 1,800 clients across 11 markets, examining sentiment, diversification trends, geopolitical concerns, and AI adoption in investing. It highlights striking country-level differences, revealing what’s on investors’ minds across Saxo’s markets: Denmark shows the strongest support for its local stock market, the French are most willing to try new investments, the Dutch rely least on AI in their investment process, and Japanese investors are the most optimistic about the US.

While global investors remain cautiously positive, especially on US equities, UK respondents were the only group to report negative sentiment across all markets: FTSE 100 –0.26, US equities –0.17 and global equities 0.02. Older investors (61+) showed some positivity, while younger investors (18–45) were the most cautious.

Neil Wilson, Investor Strategist at Saxo UK, said: “UK investors are entering the final quarter with their guard up. Political uncertainty and global instability are weighing on sentiment, but we’re seeing a highly adaptive approach to risk management. What’s particularly striking is how many clients continue to spot opportunities in global markets. That confidence runs counter to the usual ‘home bias’ towards domestic investments, suggesting that despite the turmoil, optimism in the global economy remains resilient.”

Despite caution, UK investors are the world’s second most proactive diversifiers. A third plan to invest in new regions or asset classes in the next three months (vs. 23% globally), rising to 42% among younger investors. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are a particular focus, with 61% rating them as “very” or “somewhat important” to their investment strategy.

UK investors also lead global adoption of AI in investing, with 71% using tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, rising to 92% among younger investors.

Neil Wilson adds: “AI has moved from an emerging technology to an established force in the investment ecosystem. The UK’s proactive adoption highlights how AI is enhancing both the analytical depth of investment research and the efficiency of execution, creating competitive advantages for early movers.”

Globally, cautious optimism persists, with modest expected gains across local (+0.03), US (+0.14), and global (+0.26) equities. North America remains the top-performing region, while Europe is expected to lag.

The Saxo Bank Group posted a net profit of EUR 73 million in H1 2025, up 18% year-on-year, on total income of EUR 335 million. The bank also reached a new milestone of 1.4 million clients, a 13% increase, driving client assets to a record EUR 118 billion, marking the highest in its history.

The full report can be found here.