NEW research has revealed that while fewer women actively invest they are investing more when they do.

Data from The Share Centre said year to date trades in stocks and shares ISAs made by those aged 18-36 rose by almost one-fifth (19 per cent) year on year.

Inflow figures showed a similar picture, up 8% compared to last year. However, the amounted invested by female millennial investors was up 40% but down 2% for their male counterparts.

A separate Freedom of Information request submitted to HMRC revealed that women invested an average of £9,853 in stocks and shares ISAs in 2014/15, compared to an average of £9,560 for men – a difference of 3% or almost £300.

Richard Stone, chief executive of The Share Centre, said many people struggled to engage with the financial services industry because it “continues to be characterised by jargon, complexity and mysticism”.

“The increase in forums aimed at women, and young women in particular, has clearly had an impact in improving levels of engagement and more needs to be done to engage investors across all ages and genders, cutting through the artificial barriers created by jargon and complexity which have become entrenched over many decades,” he said.