As we start a new year, it is always interesting to review the previous 12 months and see the top ten companies that have been popular among our investors. 2015’s top traded stock, which is based on the number of deals completed by our customers, was Lloyds Banking Group.

This was not surprising given the continuing speculation around the sell down of the government’s stake. This trend is likely to continue into 2016 as there is expected to be a discounted retail offer to private investors in the first half of the year.

GlaxoSmithKline is also a company we aren’t stunned to see appear on the list given its defensive attractions in what has been a volatile market. Furthermore, the fall in the share price would have appealed to bargain hunters!

BP is the first of three oil companies to appear on the list with some investors looking to take advantage of the share price falling to a five-year low due to the impact of the oil price fall. Mining group Glencore follows in fourth position and is likely to have been at the forefront of investors’ minds due to the heavy press attention it received around its debt reduction plan and the ongoing slump in commodity prices.

Mid-way through the top ten list we find the formidable Royal Dutch Shell. We aren’t particularly surprised to see it feature given the sharp fall in the price of oil. Over the last twelve months Royal Dutch Shell investors have seen the share price fall away, but the high dividend yield remained very attractive.

Following in sixth and seventh positions we find Barclays and Tesco, respectively. These are two companies that are unsurprisingly represented in this list due to having more sales than purchases. Barclays’ shares are at a three year low and Tesco are experiencing falling sales in a highly competitive sector. Both however, have hired new CEOs and so investors will be hoping that both may be on the path to recovery.

Taylor Wimpey is in eighth place, a popular choice amongst our investors. The company has good prospects and solid trading levels. Furthermore, the government’s proposals in the Autumn Statement have signalled possible further success for this stalwart company.

In ninth position is the last of the three featured oil companies Afren and closely behind, and propping up the table in tenth position, is technology solutions provider Watchstone, previously known as Quindell. Both of these companies had a high profile in the media last year, which is likely to have kept investors on their toes, leading them to acquire places in our top traded stocks list of 2015.

2015 top traded stocks from The Share Centre:

1     Lloyds Banking Group

2     GlaxoSmithKline

3     BP

4     Glencore

5     Royal Dutch Shell

6     Barclays

7     Tesco

8     Taylor Wimpey

9     Afren

10   Watchstone

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