"It feels like we've passed the peak of pessimism about the UK," said Daniel Lockyer, senior fund manager at 7 billion-pound investment and advice group Hawksmoor Investment Management, which increased its exposure to UK companies in August. Consumer stocks are outperforming as investors bet on the UK cost of living crisis becoming less intense. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsLeigh Himsworth, UK fund manager at Fidelity International, said he was "trying to pick off UK retailers we can buy", while it was also "time to pick up some of the (UK) real estate sector." But while noting good economic reasons to call an upturn for UK stocks, fund managers also stressed the need for further steps from policymakers to revive interest in British equities. Premier Miton is lobbying policymakers to introduce a new tax-efficient investment vehicle for UK stocks.

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Persons: Toby Melville, we've, Daniel Lockyer, Morningstar, Martin Walker, Walker, Samuel Tombs, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Leigh Himsworth, Spencer, Neil Birrell, Premier Miton, Miton, Savvas Savouri, Naomi Rovnick, Dhara Ranasinghe, Sharon Singleton Organizations: London Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Inflation, LONDON, Apple, FTSE, Investment Management, Global, Reuters, Bank of England, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Fidelity International, Premier, Fidelity, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, U.S, COVID, outflows