Investment ISA net sales hit £247million in June, bringing quarterly ISA sales to their highest level in six years, figures from the Investment Management Association (IMA) have revealed.

And it is not just ISA sales that have been booming over the last quarter, net investment fund sales on the whole hit £7.4million in the three months to June this year, a threefold increase from the £2.3billion recorded for the same period in 2008.

Of those who invested in funds, the amount invested in equity funds shot up from £190million in quarter one to £2.5billion in the last quarter, suggesting a return to investment risk.

Meanwhile, equity fund investments in June overtook bond funds for the first time since last November , despite the fact that corporate bonds remained the single most popular investment sector in June.

Commenting on the statistics, Richard Saunders, chief executive of the IMA said: “Retail investors have begun over the last two months to put money into equity funds, particularly international equities, as well as bond funds.

“As a result, net retail sales in the second quarter were the highest on record and net ISA sales the highest for six years.”

These investment trends have also been reflected at fund supermarket Interactive Investor, whose head of investment, Rebecca O’Keeffe said: “Retail investors trading direct continue to invest successfully in emerging markets and global growth.

“This follows a protracted period when corporate bonds were the best sellers, which means that some consumers will have missed out on some aggressive equity market rallies.”

Compare investment deals »

© Fair Investment Company Ltd