DIY investors have also bet on high-growth technology companies, even as they fall out of favour with the wider market. The electric car maker Tesla ranked among the top 10 most-popular buys this week by AJ Bell customers, despite the fact that the share price has fallen 18pc this year.

Meanwhile Scottish Mortgage, Britain’s largest investment trust, and an early backer of Tesla and the internet giant Amazon, was the most popular purchase among investment trusts. The trust has delivered exceptional returns of 165pc in the past five years, but it has sunk by 27pc since January. It traded at a 2pc discount to the value of its net assets.

Other investors have taken an even more aggressive approach to tackle inflation – buying companies that will benefit from volatility in the commodity market. a major force that is driving up prices across Europe. London-listed Russian miner Polymetal ranked seventh. Its value almost wiped out when the war in Ukraine first began but shares have rebounded 168pc since their low in early March. However, they remain 77pc below their level before the invasion. 

A number of investors have also banked on more defensive and traditional shares. The most popular stock on AJ Bell this week was GlaxoSmithKline, which has returned 11pc since the start of the year.