Financial advisers are bullish about UK equities for 2014, according to research by an investment firm.
Over a quarter of the advisers surveyed (27%) have sighted UK equities as the asset class most likely to perform well over the year according to a survey conducted by Skandia, part of Old Mutual Wealth.
This was followed in popularity by global specialist equities, which was selected by 15% of respondents and North American equities, chosen by 14%.
Alistair Campbell, head of investment marketing at Skandia, said: "Financial advisers are clearly confident that equities will continue to deliver over the next year and we can expect to see this reflected in sales trends during the year.
"Looking forward there are still concerns about the stability of the economy and how it will impact investment decisions and confidence, however, the general outlook for 2014 is looking more positive than it has done for the last few years.
"It is always important to consider individual circumstances, long-term goals and risk tolerance before investing in any asset class."
{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}
He said the positive sentiment towards equities is likely to be a response to the growth experienced in financial markets during 2013 and the resulting rise in investor confidence. However, it is the developed markets that have come out on top in this year's predictions with emerging market equities coming in fourth place.
In contrast, lower risk asset classes came out as the least popular choice for next year.
Two fifths (40%) of respondents selected cash as the least likely to deliver results, closely followed by gilts, which was selected by nearly a third (30%) of advisers.
Whilst underlying confidence in the UK economy is evident, advisers are concerned about the effects rising interest rates could have on economic stability. This was selected by 29% of advisers as their biggest concern.