Big bank stocks both 'most bought' and 'most sold'

Volatile bank stocks remain the most highly-traded among UK investors, including offshore private banking clients.

According to Interactive Investor, Lloyds RBS and Barclays were the ’most bought’ stocks over the past week - as markets continued to trend upwards from March’s lows.

However, other private investors were also revealed to be offloading the high-risk stocks.

Barclays, RBS and Lloyds - all of which have faced threats to their financial stability due to the financial crisis - were found to be the three most-sold stocks.

Rebecca O’Keeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor, added: ’Banks stocks have now topped the most traded tables every week of the year so far. And this trend shows no sign of changing.’

Damage to stock prices caused by the credit crunch has led both RBS and Lloyds to have been bailed out by the Treasury.

The taxpayer now owns 70 per cent of the former bank and 45 per cent of the latter, following the emergency rescue schemes.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19185945-ADNFCR