© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
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(Reuters) – Global equity funds attracted substantial inflows in the week to Jan. 31, driven by upbeat U.S. economic growth data, and inflation readings showing a continued moderation in price pressures.
According to data from LSEG, global equity funds secured a net $7.43 billion in inflows during the week, contrasting with outflows seen during the previous five weeks.
A Commerce Department report last week showed the U.S. economy grew much faster than expected at 3.3% in the last quarter, allaying concerns of an impending recession.
Meanwhile, data last week showed the U.S. personal consumption expenditure index – the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge – rose moderately in December, bolstering expectations that interest cuts are coming in the months ahead.
By region, Asian equity funds attracted $3.7 billion, the biggest inflow in three weeks. U.S. and European funds pulled in a net $1.83 billion and $1.14 billion, respectively.
Investors put $1.98 billion into tech sector funds, continuing a buying trend into a third successive week. Industrials also attracted $579 million, while the utilities sector saw $1.04 billion in outflows.
Debt funds were in demand for the sixth week in a row, with investors pouring about $12.5 billion into global bond funds on a net basis.
Global high yield funds received $4.25 billion, marking their seventh successive week of net purchases. Government, and loan participation funds also saw $1.5 billion and $452 million worth of net buying.
Concurrently, money market funds obtained $32.89 billion, their first weekly inflow in three weeks.
In the commodities segment, precious metal funds received about $50 million, a significant drop from $511 million worth of net purchases in the previous week. Energy funds, meanwhile, saw $77 million worth of net buying.
Data covering 29,702 emerging market funds showed equity funds saw $361 million worth of net purchases, the first weekly inflow in three weeks, while bond funds suffered about $711 million worth of net selling.
