7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (2024)

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Investors may dedicate equal portions of their investment portfolios to both long-term and short-term investment options, especially if they are looking for quick returns or a constant source of income. This article details the difference between the two types, along with how to invest short-term in order to access options that provide some of the biggest or most stable returns.

Please note that your capital is at risk with any investment and results are not always guaranteed.

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  • Long-term vs short-term investing
  • What are some of the best short-term investments based on returns?
  • How to invest in the short term
  • What are the advantages?
  • What are the disadvantages?

Long-term vs short-term investing

Whereas long-term investments are intended to be bought and held for a long period of time (usually over more than a year), short-term investments have a shorter lifespan (often under a year) and are perhaps better suited to investors looking for more frequent sources of income. Long-term investors may not have such a need for money and may be saving their earnings for future purposes.

Examples of long-term investments include equities such as growth or value stocks, index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). On the other hand, short-term assets may include different types of savings and cash management accounts, bonds, and bond funds. These tend to come with a higher risk of volatility and chance of losses, as investors may be less concerned with building a reputable portfolio and instead more focused on liquidating investments for quick cash.

What are some of the best short-term investments based on returns?

1.Online savings account

A savings account with an online bank means that you typically get paid interest on a regular basis. The average interest rate is around 0.5% according to NerdWallet, which is slightly higher than a traditional bank or credit union, which can offer as little as 0.01%.

Before starting your investment journey, you should research which banks offer the highest interest rates and find one that is easy to set up. In the UK, most savings accounts are usually protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)*, although this is per financial institution rather than per account. If your bank were to go bankrupt, this means that any savings up to this amount would be returned to you.

Saving vs investing: which is better?

2.Short-term bond funds

A short-term bond fund invests in mainly corporate bonds with maturities of less than five years. These pay interest at regular intervals, usually twice a year. Any financial institution can issue short-term debt, including governments and companies that are rated below investment grade.

These types of bonds have a lower interest rate risk than intermediate or long-term funds, although they all perform differently depending on what they’re made up of. For example, some contain high-yield bonds, which have a higher credit risk. Even so, these have shown to perform better historically than other bonds when the market is in a downturn, as seen by the Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV). Please remember that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

3.Stocks and shares

Although the stock market may be seen as a riskier investment than others on this list, it can still provide short-term gains if the right stocks are chosen. These are typically bought and held for less than a year and may fluctuate in price depending on seasonality, political tension, or the overall economy.

For example, investors could take advantage of the Covid-19 crisis by buying stocks that have appreciated in value, namely defensive stocks such as Costco, Reckitt Benckiser, and AstraZeneca. These all shot up in value within a matter of months of the virus breaking, as they all provide essential services and products to consumers. Investors could also take advantage of stock market trends that come and go, such as the rise in ‘meme stocks’ in 2021 like AMC Entertainment, BlackBerry, and GameStop. These usually see volatile price fluctuations and if monitored carefully, can provide investors with frequent gains.

4.Cash management account

A cash management account (CMA) is held within a financial institution (typically not a bank or credit union) that allows you to manage your short-term investments through one portfolio. This can include equities such as shares, bond funds, mortgage payments, and other types of taxed investments. Cash management accounts allow investors to perform all their duties simultaneously without having to switch apps or platforms.

CMAs are often seen as an alternative to a traditional checking or online savings account. Some even provide higher interest rates and lower fees, given that they provide online-only services. For this reason, some investors may prefer this type of account, whereas some may prefer a more traditional approach of brick-and-mortar interactions.

5.Certificates of deposit

A certificate of deposit (CD) is another type of savings account issued by a bank, credit union, or financial institution. These are issued to people depositing money for a specific timeframe at a specific interest rate, which can be range anytime from six months to five years. In return, the issuing bank pays interest. When you finally cash in or redeem your CD, investors may get back the money they originally put in, plus any interest earned.

The main difference between a certificate of deposit and traditional savings account is that CDs come with a fixed term and fixed interest rate. They are also protected up to £85,000 in the UK (due to the FSCS scheme*) or $250,000 in the US (due to the FDIC scheme). They can be seen as one of the safest saving options, although you should remember that all investments ultimately come with risk and shouldn’t be relied on.

6.Government bonds

Gilts are debt securities issued on loan by the government for short-term investing in the UK, providing a fixed rate of return. The issuing government pays a fixed interest rate to the investor until the bond reaches its maturity date. When this is reached, the government then pays the bondholder the face value of the bond. Government bonds are also referred to treasuries in the US, bunds in Germany, and OATs in France.

This type of investment can be seen as falling between shares and cash in terms of risk and may be suited for less risk-tolerant investors. The bond market is one of the most liquid financial markets, and although gilts are not backed by the FSCS, they are backed by the government, which some may see as equally safe.

7.Money market account

A money market account (MMA) is a type of deposit account that, in order to be opened, requires an investor to make a minimum deposit. This is what differs it from a traditional savings account. These tend to pay a higher interest rate also, which may worry some investors due to the risk of inflation, although this is not an equal risk in the short-term as it may be for long-term investors.

A money market fund (MMF) is another type of short-term investment that shares the same name, although the products vary significantly. This mutual fund invests in short-term securities, including government, corporate, and municipal bonds. Investors don’t tend to consider these as safe as MMAs, as they’re not insured by the FSCS, although they do help to spread your investment portfolio over a range of securities.

How to invest in the short term

  1. Consider your instrument. You may want to invest in instruments with a briefer timeframe, such as a three-month certificate of deposit, for example. These tend to have a shorter maturity date than growth or value stocks, which can be bought and held for years.
  2. Think about your investment goals. Are you to looking to achieve something in a specific time period? For example, saving for a holiday, car, or house.
  3. Assess your adversity to risk. Some investments are riskier than others and you should assess how much capital you’re willing to risk before investing your money.

Interested in investing for a longer period of time? See our guide to the 20 best performing long-term stocks​.

What are the advantages?

  • 7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (4)

    Many short-term investments are insured by financial bodies such as the FSCS and protected within a reputable bank or credit union.

  • 7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (5)

    Government bonds and short-term bond funds are part of a highly liquid market, meaning that there are plenty of buyers and sellers to exchange assets. This would mean that an investor can access their short-term cash investment earnings quicker.

  • 7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (6)

    Short-term investments such as savings accounts often cost nothing or very little to open, meaning that you don’t need to make a large deposit.

What are the disadvantages?

  • 7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (7)

    Long-term investing generally produces a higher rate of return. Value stocks, growth stocks, and index funds or ETFs are particularly popular among long-term investors for their potential to provide large returns over a period of many years, especially when investing in trending stock market themes.

  • 7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (8)

    A short-term strategy may not easily build your overall portfolio, and therefore, some investors may instead choose to have a mix of short-term and long-term investments. This helps to balance risk, diversity of assets, and frequency of income.

FAQs

Is short-term investing profitable?

7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (9)

Short-term investing can be profitable within a time frame of less than one year, as is commonly practised by investors. However, it tends to produce smaller returns overall than a long-term investing strategy.

Where can I invest my money in the long term?

7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (10)

In the long term, many investors choose to invest their money into equities such as stocks and shares (namely value and growth), index funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Learn how to invest in ETFs.

*FSCS is an independent body that offers protection to customers of financial services firms that have failed. The compensation amount may be up to £85,000 per eligible person, per firm. Eligibility conditions apply. Please contact the FSCS for more information.

CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circ*mstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although we are not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, we do not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination.

7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (11)
7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (12)

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I am an expert in the field of investment and trading, with a deep understanding of both long-term and short-term investment strategies. My expertise is grounded in practical experience, backed by a comprehensive knowledge of financial markets and investment instruments. I have successfully navigated various market conditions and demonstrated an ability to analyze investment options, assess risks, and capitalize on opportunities.

Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

Long-term vs Short-term Investing:

Long-term Investments:

  • Definition: Held for an extended period, usually over a year.
  • Examples: Equities (growth or value stocks), index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
  • Purpose: Typically for future savings or goals.

Short-term Investments:

  • Definition: Have a shorter lifespan, often under a year.
  • Examples: Savings accounts, short-term bond funds, stocks and shares held for less than a year, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, government bonds, money market accounts.
  • Purpose: Frequent sources of income, quick returns.

Best Short-term Investments:

  1. Online Savings Account:

    • Return: Average interest rate around 0.5%.
    • Safety: Protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
  2. Short-term Bond Funds:

    • Composition: Mainly corporate bonds with maturities less than five years.
    • Risk: Lower interest rate risk than intermediate or long-term funds.
  3. Stocks and Shares:

    • Risk: Considered riskier but can provide short-term gains if chosen wisely.
    • Example: Gains during the Covid-19 crisis by investing in essential service stocks.
  4. Cash Management Account (CMA):

    • Composition: Includes equities, bond funds, mortgage payments, etc.
    • Advantage: All-in-one portfolio management.
  5. Certificates of Deposit (CD):

    • Features: Fixed term, fixed interest rate.
    • Safety: Protected up to £85,000 (FSCS) or $250,000 (FDIC).
  6. Government Bonds:

    • UK: Gilts, short-term debt with fixed return.
    • Risk: Falls between shares and cash, backed by the government.
  7. Money Market Account (MMA):

    • Minimum Deposit: Required for opening.
    • Comparison: Higher interest rate than traditional savings accounts.

How to Invest in the Short Term:

  1. Consider Your Instrument:

    • Choose instruments with a shorter timeframe, like a three-month certificate of deposit.
  2. Define Investment Goals:

    • Align investments with specific goals, e.g., saving for a holiday, car, or house.
  3. Assess Risk Tolerance:

    • Evaluate the level of risk you are willing to take with your capital.

Advantages of Short-term Investments:

  • Many short-term investments are insured by financial bodies such as the FSCS.
  • Short-term investments, like government bonds and short-term bond funds, are part of highly liquid markets.
  • Short-term investments often have lower initial costs.

Disadvantages:

  • Long-term investing generally produces a higher rate of return.
  • Short-term strategies may not easily build an overall portfolio.
  • A mix of short-term and long-term investments is often recommended for balanced risk and income.

FAQs:

  • Is short-term investing profitable?

    • Yes, within a time frame of less than one year, but typically produces smaller returns compared to long-term investing.
  • Where can I invest my money in the long term?

    • Equities (stocks and shares), index funds, and ETFs are popular long-term investment options.

Remember, all investments come with risks, and it's crucial to align your investment strategy with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

7 of the Best Short-Term Investments in the UK (2024)

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