But data released from the Office for National Statistics show that this proportion ticked up last year following the lows of the financial crisis. Part of this is the admission of the alternative investment market (Aim) into the calculation, but the majority of the holdings were main market equities.
Some argue the real figure is higher, as many private investors hold equities through nominee accounts at their stockbroker. These people lose many of their shareholder rights, such as financial reports, attendance at annual general meetings, and crucially the right to vote on company issues, as this publication's editor John Hughman criticised this week.
