Sharesight users' top 20 trades in LSE stocks for 2023

Each year, we look back at the top 20 buy and sell trades made by Sharesight users throughout the year. Welcome to the 2023 edition of our annual trading snapshot, where we explore the top trades users made in stocks on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), plus the market-moving news behind some of these stocks.

Top 20 LSE stocks traded in 2023

In this yearly snapshot, trades were led by British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS), which saw its share price decrease steadily over 2023, ending the year down more than 31% (as at the time of publishing). Trades were followed by Legal & General (LSE: LGEN), which saw its share price peak in Q1, followed by a period of decline until its rebound in Q4, where it ended the year down just over 1%. It was a varied year overall, with the top trades spanning sectors including consumer goods, financial services, pharmaceuticals, natural resources, telecommunications and more.

British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS)

• April: British American Tobacco to pay £512 million for breaching North Korean sanctions
• June: British American Tobacco shuffles board in aim to transition towards vapes and further US growth
• November: Calls for greater regulation on vapes
• December: Dutch court orders British American Tobacco to pay €107 million for tax evasion

Legal & General (LSE: LGEN)

• May: L&G halts new production at modular home factory near Leeds
• June: L&G appoints new CEO
• August: Records 10% drop in assets under management as interest rates bite
• December: L&G considering US-style bonuses for UK asset managers

GSK (LSE: GSK)

• May: FDA approves GSK’s world-first RSV vaccine for older adults
• June: FDA delays approval decision on GSK’s US$1.9 billion blood cancer medication
• November: GSK plots comeback after pulling multiple myeloma drug Blenrep from US markets
• December: GSK signs US$1.7 billion deal with China’s Hansoh Pharma

Glencore (LSE: GLEN)

• May: Glencore plans to build Europe’s largest battery recycling plant in Italy
• July: Glencore reports mixed performance across metals and commodities in first-half earnings report
• September: Glencore found to have traded thousands of tonnes of Russian copper via Turkey
• November: UK investment bank downgrades Glencore rating due to low free cash flow yield

Vodafone (LSE: VOD)

• January: Vodafone reportedly planning several hundred layoffs in the UK
• May: New Vodafone CEO announces plan to cut 11,000 jobs in move to “simplify” business
• June: Vodafone and Hutchison to join forces in £15 billion merger
• December: Vodafone-Hutchinson merger still awaiting formal approval but expected to go ahead

Lloyd’s Banking Group (LSE: LLOY)

• February: Shareholders decry proposed £9.1 million CEO payout; £446 million staff bonus pot
• May: Lloyds share fall despite strong earnings results
• July: Lloyds reports weak half-year profit
• November: Over 2,500 Lloyds jobs at risk in response to cost cuts

Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO)

• February: Rio’s net cash is 36% lower compared to 2021
• June: Rio to invest US$1.1 billion in expansion of Quebec aluminium smelter
• October: Leading broker revokes Rio sell rating as iron ore outlook improves
• December: Guinea Simandou iron ore project to cost US$6.2 billion, says Rio

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FURTHER READING

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• Sharesight users' top 20 trades in LSE stocks for 2022