RENEWABLE energy has become the top investment sector for Scottish investors. Almost one-third of investors (30%) regard renewables as the sector they would actively put their money into for long term gain.

With UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutterres warning that climate change is about to reach a point of no return – and with Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage empty-chaired for Channel 4’s recent climate change debate – new research from GraniteShares suggests the green agenda is gripping the UK investor community.

Renewable energy is now a top investment choice for investors of all ages; it is equally popular with men (29%) and women (31%) and it also transcends investment philosophy. For example, active traders – those that are simply looking to make an opportune gain – place as much emphasis on renewables as those investors that act with a specific ethical investment philosophy (33% and 36% respectively).

At a time when the General Election and protracted Brexit delays are casting a cloud of uncertainty over 2020, the research suggests economic and political events have powered a greater sense of conviction among investors, with 76% seeing clear investment opportunities to capitalise on. Further, more than a third of UK investors (37%) identified as being in control of their investment decisions, acting with conviction.

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Will Rhind, founder and CEO at GraniteShares commented: “Despite the context of unprecedented market uncertainty in the UK at the moment, it is positive to see so many investors taking conviction views for the year ahead. The rising popularity of tech brands we expect to continue and the focus on renewable energy reflects concern over one of the biggest issues that the planet faces.

“At a time when it has become statistically harder and harder to actually make money in the markets and outperform, more investors are looking at new sectors and also individual brands when it comes to investment planning. For many sophisticated investors, there is also a serious opportunity to balance the long-term with the short-term.”

GraniteShares asked a nationally representative sample of 1560 UK investors which sectors they would put their money into if they were looking to make a long-term gain over the next year. After renewables, the most popular sectors for Scottish investors were technology (27%), gold (23%) and pharmaceuticals (21%). Technology was most popular with younger investors aged 25-34 (31%), whereas property was most popular with the over 55s (33%). Gold was evenly popular across all age groups, a top choice with around one in five investors. In addition, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology were particularly popular with over 55s (36% and 23% respectively), cannabis was most popular among the over 40s (20%) and oil and gas was the top choice among the 25-34s (17%).