More investors turned to fixed interest funds in January, according to investment management firm Skandia.

The company, which provides a platform – a way in which investors can access funds from different fund managers, through a financial adviser – found investors were looking for more security in January. As a result, half of its top 10 selling funds over the month were fixed interest, with the M&G High Interest Fund topping the table.

Other funds that proved popular with investors were Merrill Lynch Gold & General and, two interest income funds from the Invesco Perpetual fund group.

Some investors, however, were interested in investing in riskier funds during periods of stock market volatility, demonstrated by the appearance of Allianz RCM BRIC Stars fund, (which invests in equities in Brazil, Russia, India and China) in fourth place.

Graham Bentley, spokesperson for Skandia UK, said: “Market volatility seems to have resulted in a reduced appetite for risk for a number of investors. Current market conditions demonstrate one of the key benefits of fund platforms; enabling investors to work with their advisers to adjust their investment portfolios rather than coming out of the market completely.”