UK investors have plenty to think about besides whether the UK votes to leave the European Union later this month.

A survey of UK investors shows they are concerned about the longer term economic outlook and geopolitics regardless of the outcome of the 23 June referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

With the “Brexit” vote less than a month away, a great deal of market commentary is understandably focused on that event and its possible aftermath, but there are other issues that arguably are more significant, according to the survey, conducted among more than 1,800 personal investors by the Share Centre.

Investors were asked what issues cause them more concern than the EU vote. One in four (24 per cent) indicated they were more concerned by slowing Chinese growth, while one in five personal investors expressed greater levels of concern over tension in the Middle East (21 per cent) and continuing low interest rates (20 per cent). Only 8 per cent cited the US Presidential Election as the issue of most concern to them.

“Markets are often moved by short term political set pieces. Investors are right to be concerned about some of the larger global long term influences, in particular the potential impact that slowing growth in China or tension in the Middle East may have on the global economy as a whole. This is particularly the case as it is now eight years since the global financial crisis of 2008 and yet global economic growth remains subdued,” Richard Stone, chief executive of The Share Centre, said.

“Investors are having to come to terms with the concept of prolonged low inflation, lower growth and low interest rates. These factors are particularly important for those investors seeking to derive an income from savings. While low inflation means that savings are not eroded as fast, this is currently driven largely by lower energy costs which those in retirement are often slightly less exposed to,” he said.

The Share Centre, created 26 years’ ago, provides dealing facilities for stocks, as well as custodial and administration services, as well as a suite of investment wrappers, such as self-invested pension plans.