You can refuse this indicator but private trading activities outline the interest in stock markets. This article suggests the return of day-traders and

"UK on-line trading volumes, meanwhile, were up from the usual mark of about 500,000 trades per quarter to more than 700,000 in Q2 -- a 42 percent rise in three months."

Even mighty Comdirect has turned around the falling order volume and increased it by 23% in Q2. Profits have jumped as well. Direct banking might be worth a new investment again...