Interactive Investor has recorded four of its five busiest trading days to date in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s tariff announcement.
The DIY investment platform said its busiest trading day was April 7, as market turmoil related to Trump’s tariffs met the beginning of the new tax year.
The second busiest day was three days earlier, on April 4, while April 8 and 10 took spots four and five.
The only other day making it into the mix was November 9 2020, when Pfizer announced its Covid vaccine had proven 90 per cent effective at protecting people against the virus, sending the stock market into a frenzy.
Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at Interactive Investor, said: “Volatility has been the hallmark of the markets at the turn of the new tax year, with investors caught in the crossfire of the tariff wars.
“The renewed protectionist rhetoric has stirred uncertainty across global supply chains, weighing heavily on sentiment and prompting sharp swings in equity and currency markets alike.
“At Interactive Investor, we’ve recorded four of our busiest trading days in terms of volume during this period – three of which in the new tax year – as many customers sought to capitalise on market dips in the hope of turbocharging their long-term returns.”
On April 2, Trump’s administration announced sweeping tariffs on major trading partners around the globe, with a baseline of 10 per cent across all imports, a day he called “Liberation Day”.
This spooked markets and sparked global sells offs until on April 9 Trump announced a 90-day pause, seeing markets bounce back.
“It’s a reminder that while volatility can rattle nerves, it also presents opportunities for those willing to take a long-term view,” said Jobson.
Tax shelter
Elsewhere Interactive Investor saw record Bed & Isa transactions in April. These are deals whereby an investment is sold in a dealing account outside a tax wrapper and bought back in a stocks and shares Isa.
Bed & Isa transactions rose by 10 per cent in April 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 – as well as being close to four times (365 per cent) the volume seen on Interactive Investor in March 2025.
Jobson said the transfers have become increasingly popular since the cuts to capital gains tax and dividend tax allowances (to £3,000 and £500 respectively).
CGT increased from 10 per cent to 18 per cent for basic rate taxpayers and from 20 per cent to 24 per cent for higher-rate taxpayers following the Autumn Budget at the end of October 2024.
He said: “It’s clear that many investors have been quick off the mark to maximise their Isa allowances this year, keen to shield their investments from a tightening tax regime.
“With cuts to capital gains tax and dividend tax allowances, there’s a renewed urgency to make the most of every tax-efficient opportunity.
“Isas remain a crucial tool for building and protecting long-term wealth, offering a straightforward way to keep more of your returns out of the taxman’s reach.”
carmen.reichman@ft.com
