AJ Bell, one of the UK's largest investment platforms, saw a drop in assets over the first quarter of the year as inflation and the uncertainty of the Ukraine war weighed on armchair traders' appetite to invest.

Overall, DIY investor assets — or assets under administration — declined to £20.4bn from £20.6bn during the first three months of the year, as net inflows of £0.7bn failed to offset a £0.9bn hit from market movements. The same three-month period in 2021 saw a 4% gain in AUA.