Confidence amongst stockmarket investors may be returning according to new figures from the Investment Management Association (IMA).

Sales of unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICS) to private investors rose from �1.88bn in September to �2.14bn in October.

Investment ISA sales also picked up during the month rising to �385m from �375m the previous month.

In addition, banks and other financial institutions invested �620m into unit trusts during October, up from �148m the month prior.

The IMA attributed rising investment sales figures to investors recovering confidence after a bad September.