Global bond funds attracted massive inflows in the week ended Sept. 15 as inflation worries subsided after U.S. data showed a slower increase in consumer prices in August.
Investors purchased a net $12.26 billion in global bond funds in the week, their eight consecutive week as net buyers.
The core measure of U.S. consumer prices edged up 0.1% last month, the smallest gain since February. The August slowdown gives the Federal Reserve breathing room as it prepares to reduce its massive bond holdings and decide how soon to begin lifting rates from near zero.
European bond funds attracted a net $6.46 billion, U.S. funds secured $5.56 billion, but Asian bond funds saw a small outflow.
Inflows into global government bond funds nearly doubled from the previous week to $1.8 billion, while purchases in inflation protected and high yield bond funds dropped more than 50% to $644 million and $20 million, respectively.
Global equity funds pulled in a net $9.1 billion, compared with $8.6 billion in the previous week, with the United States, Europe and Asia attracting a net $5.54 billion, $2.13 billion and $1.26 billion, respectively, in inflows.
Global fund flows into equity sectors
Within sector funds, tech funds attracted $751 million, a 148% increase over the previous week, while financials, real estate and industrials saw outflows of $640 million, $266 million and $217 million, respectively.
Meanwhile, global money market funds faced outflows of $67.3 billion, the largest in nine months.
Among commodity funds, precious metal funds saw net purchases of $217 million, compared with an outflow of $109 million in the previous week, while energy funds had outflows for a fifth successive week.
An analysis of 23,884 emerging market funds showed equity funds attracted $867 million and bond funds received a net $571 million, each marking a third weekly inflow.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter)