Webull UK CEO says retail investors bought the AI dip
Nick Saunders, chief executive of Webull U.K., told Investing.com that the recent market turbulence has split UK retail investors into two distinct camps. One group has rotated into less volatile assets or cash, while a significant cohort has moved toward riskier stocks, often holding short‑term positions aimed at capturing gains before sentiment shifts. Saunders said that volatility has proved a net positive for trading volumes on Webull’s platform and described the approach of trading volatile stocks as “to ride a wave before it breaks on the shore.”
He noted that rather than retreating from equities, UK investors have increased their activity, with sharp price swings bringing otherwise unnoticed stocks onto their radar and the prospect of buying at a discount acting as a particular draw. Some investors, according to Saunders, actively seek volatility as a source of returns.
The dynamic extends to the recent pullback in AI‑related stocks; Saunders confirmed that UK investors have been buying the dip, but selectively, emphasizing that not all investors or all stocks are involved and that more volatile names are attracting interest while sentiment around steadier, core holdings remains cautious.
On geographic positioning, Saunders said UK investors have shown a clear preference for US equities over UK and European names this year and he expects the trend to continue. He attributed the preference to lower trading costs, including the absence of certain UK transaction taxes such as stamp duty, greater availability of information, and the broader scope of the US market. “The U.S. is very much in focus, and likely to continue to remain so,” he added.