(Reuters) – Investment flows into U.S. equity funds jumped to a five-week high in the week ended March 17, buoyed by optimism over a massive stimulus package and on expectations that the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance would remain dovish.
U.S. equity mutual funds pocketed a net inflow of $20.1 billion in the week, which marked a sixth straight week of net buying, data from Refinitiv Lipper showed.
The inflows were led by U.S. small cap funds and mid-cap funds, seeing net purchases of $3.6 billion and $2.1 billion respectively. On the other hand, large-cap funds had an inflow of just $251 million.
Among sector funds, investors turned net buyers of tech funds this week, purchasing $832 million, as tech stocks appeared attractive at lower valuations after witnessing sharp selling in the prior weeks.
Graphic: Fund flows into U.S. equities bonds and money market – https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/gjnvwojmzvw/Fund%20flows%20into%20U.S.%20equities%20bonds%20and%20money%20market.jpg
Investors were sanguine ahead of a two-day Fed policy meeting at which the central bank signalled its intent to keep rates near zero until at least 2024, also predicting a fast economic recovery from the pandemic.
However, U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday, with banks leading the way after the Fed let expire a temporary capital buffer relief put in place to ease a pandemic-driven stress in the funding mark.
Graphic: Fund flows into U.S. equity sector funds – https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/azgpodaodvd/Fund%20flows%20into%20U.S.%20based%20equity%20sector%20funds.jpg
Meanwhile, investors bought $9.72 billion in U.S. bond funds in the week, compared with $1.32 billion in the preceding week.
U.S. Taxable bond funds had an inflow of $7.9 billion, while U.S. municipal funds saw an inflow of $9.3 billion.
Investors turned net buyers of U.S. High yield funds, buying $260 million, after dumping $5.5. billion in the last week.
On the other hand, U.S. money market funds see net sales of $5.3 billion, the first outflow in six weeks.
Graphic: Fund flows into U.S. growth and value funds – https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/oakvelebwpr/Fund%20flows%20into%20growth%20and%20value%20funds.jpg
Graphic: Flows into U.S. bond funds – https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/jbyvramgype/Flows%20into%20U.S.%20bond%20funds.jpg
(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
