Global equity funds record fifth weekly outflow in a row

(Reuters) – Global equity funds witnessed weekly outflows for a fifth straight week in the week to July 27 on caution ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting and on lingering fears over a global recession.

According to Refinitiv Lipper, global equity funds booked net selling of $2.73 billion, although weekly outflows eased to the lowest in five weeks.

The Fed raised U.S. interest rates by 75 basis points on Wednesday, in a quest to cool the sharpest inflation since the 1980s and signalled “ongoing increases” in borrowing costs were still ahead despite evidence of a slowing economy.

Also a cut in Russian gas flows to Europe and European Union leaders’ agreement on an emergency plan to curb demand, raised concerns.

European and Asian equity funds posted outflows of $2.58 billion and $0.55 billion respectively, while the U.S. equity funds drew a net $0.63 million in inflows.

Investors broadly withdrew out of sectoral funds with real estate, industrials, financials and tech recording outflows of $672 million, $593 million, $538 million and $267 million, respectively.

GRAPHIC:Fund flows: Global equity sector funds (https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/mopanaemova/Fund%20flows-%20Global%20equity%20sector%20funds.jpg)

Meanwhile, safer money market funds obtained $3.52 billion in net buying after $3.05 billion worth of outflows in the week before.

Global bond funds suffered withdrawals worth $2.28 billion, in a third subsequent week of net selling.

GRAPHIC:Global bond fund flows in the week ended July 27 (https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/znvneawdgpl/Global%20bond%20fund%20flows%20in%20the%20week%20ended%20July%2027.jpg)

Selling in short term funds surged to a three-week high of $4.43 billion, while government bond funds recorded outflows of $567 million after five weeks of net buying in a row.

However, high yield funds came into demand after two weeks of outflows, luring $5.32 billion in net buying, the biggest inflow since June 1.

Among commodities funds, gold and precious metal funds faced outflows of $549 million in a fifth weekly net selling, while energy funds outgo of $226 million.

An analysis of 24,429 emerging market funds showed, both equity and bond funds had outflows, amounting to $1.28 billion and $200 million respectively, although selling eased by 33% and 92% respective from a week ago.

GRAPHIC:Fund flows: EM equities and bonds (https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/zdpxobmywvx/Fund%20flows-%20EM%20equities%20and%20bonds.jpg)

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)