Investor uncertainty grows amidst volatile markets

Investors picked a mixed bag of stocks in the week ending 20 September, according to TD Waterhouse, with trading taking place across the resource, construction, technology and communications sectors.

Bank stocks proved particularly unpopular with investors, with Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays being the top three most sold stocks of the week.

At the same time, however, it seems some investors might have chanced their arm at spotting a bargain, with all three banking giants featuring in the top four stocks bought.

Overall trading levels increased by 9% on the previous week, albeit with the volume of sells increasing by 76% compared with a 28% rise in buys.

Amongst the new entrants to the top ten of sold stocks were Vodafone and the homebuilder Taylor Wimpey.

Interestingly, the previous week's most sold stock, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, was this week's second most popular buy.

Darren Hepworth, trading and customer services director at TD Waterhouse, said:

"Gulf revealed on Tuesday it had raised $200 million by placing over 91 million shares at a price of 140 pence.

"The funds will be used to fund its operations at the Shaikan field in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq."

With the markets having suffered a torrid time yesterday during which the FTSE 100 slumped by 4.7%, trading activity is almost certain to have heightened further in the past few days.