US equities are expected to offer the best investment returns in 2013, according to a recent poll. Some 30 per cent of clients on the Barclays Stockbrokers International Trader platform cited this as their top pick.

Developed Europe came second, attracting 28 per cent of the vote; Hong Kong and Singapore followed, with 14 per cent of the vote each. On a sector level, oil and gas was picked as the most popular prospect for 2013 with 21 per cent of the vote. The technology and financial sectors came joint second, with 19 per cent each.

Analysis of the international stock trades carried out by clients in 2012, revealed that the technology sector dominated. Apple was the most popular purchase; Facebook, Google, Siemens and Nokia all also appeared in the top 10. The US and Canada dominated the list of the top 10 traded international markets on the platform in 2012.

“Two years on from the launch of International Trader, we are encouraged to see that the demand for investing internationally among our clients continues to grow,” Paul Inkster, head of product at Barclays Stockbrokers, said in a statement.