Global equity funds extend inflow streak as earnings optimism and reduced rate-hike bets lift sentiment 14-Aug 18:58

Global equity funds attracted inflows for a 12th consecutive week through August 12, buoyed by optimism over a strong earnings season and data ​showing weaker-than-expected U.S. payroll growth and easing inflation, which tempered expectations of a ‌Federal Reserve rate hike.

Investors bought a net $18.62 billion in global equity funds during the week, slightly more than the previous week's $17.27 billion in net purchases, LSEG Lipper data ​showed.

The MSCI All-Country World Equity Index (.MIWD00000PUS), which hit a record high ​of 1,163.05 on Wednesday, rose 2.85% last week—its best weekly ⁠performance since April 17—bolstered by strong earnings from AI-related companies such as Caterpillar (CAT.N) ​and Palantir (PLTR.O).

A U.S. Labor Department report on Thursday showed that producer prices were unchanged in ​July, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve could leave interest rates unchanged next month.

By region, European equity funds attracted $13.52 billion, their largest weekly net inflow since July 8. U.S. ​and Asian equity funds also recorded inflows of $2.58 billion and $4.13 billion, respectively.

Investors, ​meanwhile, withdrew about $1.7 billion from technology-sector funds, ending a six-week run of net purchases. ‌They, however, ⁠bought $1.6 billion in gold and precious metals equity funds and $609 million in consumer staples sector funds.

Weekly net investment in bond funds jumped to a four-week high of $18.01 billion during the week.

Short-term bond funds, euro-denominated bond funds, government ​bond funds and ​loan participation funds ⁠saw significant buying interest, attracting inflows of $4.45 billion, $2.57 billion, $2.24 billion and $1.06 billion, respectively.

Money market funds also attracted net investments ​of $28.41 billion, extending their inflow streak to a second consecutive ​week.

Among ⁠commodity funds, investors bought a net $2.62 billion in gold and other precious metals funds, remaining net buyers for a fifth straight week. Energy funds, meanwhile, recorded ⁠their first ​weekly inflow in three weeks, at $434 million.

Data ​covering 28,966 emerging-market funds showed that equity funds attracted net inflows of $3.45 billion for a fifth ​straight week, while bond funds received net investments of $871 million.