European liquid assets are mostly owned by Europe’s richest 1 per cent according to a new report from Tulip Financial Research. The resea...

European liquid assets are mostly owned by Europe’s richest 1 per cent according to a new report from Tulip Financial Research. The research reported that the top 1 per cent (1.6 million out of an adult population of 160 million) own on average €4.33 million each in liquid assets. The total liquid assets of this 1 per cent amount to 70 per cent of all liquid assets owned privately in France, Germany and the UK. The research found that the most popular investments of the rich are shares, real estate and cash. Most of the rich invest in equities via shares, unit trusts and investment trusts and similar numbers in residential and commercial real estate, quite apart from their own homes. Although many also own fixed interest investments like bonds and gilts and alternative investments, more than 75 per cent of the top 1 per cent’s wealth is allocated to three investment categories: equities, real estate and cash. And almost 40 per cent by value of their investments are allocated to just residential and commercial real estate. The research also found that these investment patterns are very similar country by country.