What links Argo Blockchain, Tesla Inc, GameStop, Lloyds Banking Group and

(LON:ARGO) was the most popular share on two of the three biggest UK investment platforms, while () was not just the preserve of American YOLO traders streaming out of Reddit.

Investors also dived into two of London’s cannabis-focused newcomers, () and (), as well as pandemic bounce-back stocks such as Rolls Royce Holdings () and (), as well as heavyweights to tap into the next upswing in the economic cycle such as Vodafone PLC (), () and PLC ().

Ahead of the ISA and SIPP deadline in early April, investors were also piling into investment trusts and funds with significant exposure to Big Tech in the US and China, led by PLC ().

Among the funds, Fundsmith Equity remained a favourite, while almost the full range from Baillie Gifford, the manager of the Scottish Mortgage trust, was proving amazingly popular.

Top 10 shares bought on the AJ Bell platform in February

(LON:ARGO), (), (), (), Rolls Royce Holdings (), (), (), Vodafone PLC (), (), ().

Top 10 stocks on Interactive Investor

Argo Blockchain PLC (LON:ARGO), Rolls Royce Holdings (), GlaxoSmithKline PLC (), (), (), MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (), International Consolidated Airlines Group (), PLC (), (), Gamestop Corp ().

Top 10 investment trusts on AJ Bell in February

PLC (), Scottish Investment Trust PLC (), Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust PLC (LON:EWI), PLC (), Baillie Gifford US Growth Investment Trust PLC (LON:USA), (), Fidelity China Special Situations Investment Trust PLC (), Allianz Technology Investment Trust PLC (), JPMorgan China Growth & Income Investment Trust PLC (LON:JCGI), PLC ().

Top 10 investment trusts on Interactive Investor

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (), Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust PLC (LON:EWI), Fidelity China Special Situations Investment Trust PLC (), (), JPMorgan China Growth & Income Investment Trust PLC (LON:JCGI), Allianz Technology Investment Trust PLC (), Baillie Gifford US Growth Investment Trust PLC (LON:USA), PLC (), Blackrock World Mining Trust PLC (), ().                                                   

Top 10 funds for AJ Bell in February     

Fundsmith Equity, Baillie Gifford American, Baillie Gifford Global Discovery, Baillie Gifford Positive Change, Baillie Gifford China, Vanguard Lifestrategy funds, Fidelity Index World, Baillie Gifford Pacific, Fidelity Global Special Situations

Top 10 funds on Interactive Investor

Baillie Gifford American, Fundsmith Equity, Baillie Gifford Positive Change, Baillie Gifford China, Baillie Gifford Global Discovery, Baillie Gifford Pacific, Vanguard Lifestrategy 80% Equity, Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth, Vanguard Lifestrategy 60% Equity, Baillie Gifford Managed.

Responsible funds

Across the fund industry, responsible investment funds have been a huge trend, with net retail sales of £1.2bn in January 2021, according to data from the Investment Association (IA) today.

Over the last year, responsible investment equity funds made up the highest proportion of flows, with 66% growth over the past 12 months, or average monthly sales of £510mln, to give responsible investment a total of over £56bn in funds under management.

Of the funds invested in responsible investment funds in January, £703mln was invested in equity funds, £180mln was invested in bond funds and £241mln in mixed asset funds.

Sustainability is a focus of 66% of the total FUM of responsible investment funds, with 72% excluding certain types of investments, and 42% doing both.

Analysis: going for growth and active funds

“Fund investors have been going for growth in their ISA so far this year, filling their tax shelters with a raft of offerings from Baillie Gifford, and of course, the ubiquitous Fundsmith Equity,”…