Europe equity funds hit hard for the second week running

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine heading into its third week, investors stepped up their exodus from Europe Equity Funds during the seven days ending March 9. Those tracked by EPFR saw weekly redemptions exceed $10 billion for the first time ever as combined outflows from Europe Equity and Bond Funds since Russia’s attack started on Feb. 24 climbed past the $25 billion mark.

The week ending March 9 was also a painful one for many EPFR-tracked Bond Fund groups as US Federal Reserve rate-setters prepared to meet against a backdrop of surging energy and commodity prices. Global Bond Funds recorded their biggest outflow in exactly one year while redemptions from Emerging Markets Bond Funds climbed to a 101-week high.

Equity investors continued to rotate some exposure to Asian markets, with combined flows to China, Greater China, Taiwan (POC) and Hong Kong (SAR) Equity Funds exceeding $6 billion and flows to Japan Equity Funds hitting a 19-week high.

Alternative and Gold Funds also attracted above average flows, with the former recording their biggest inflow since the third week of 2Q20 and Gold Funds their biggest since 3Q20, while tightening global energy and commodity supplies chased over $4.5 billion into Energy and Commodities Sector Funds.

A week after they posted their first outflow since mid-3Q20 and biggest on record, Equity Funds with socially responsible (SRI) or environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandates recorded consecutive weekly outflows for the first time since early 4Q16. SRI/ESG Bond Funds, meanwhile, chalked up their second outflow in the past three weeks.

At the asset class single country fund levels, flows to Brazil Equity Funds climbed to a 19-week high and Taiwan (POC) Equity Funds chalked up their biggest inflow since late 2Q19 while Italy Bond Funds posted their 10th outflow in the past 12 weeks and Italy Equity Funds recorded their biggest weekly outflow since mid-2Q18. Investors pulled over $3 billion out of Total Return Funds, extended Convertible Bond Funds current outflow streak to 16 weeks and $5.9 billion, pulled money out of Bank Loan Funds for only the third time since the beginning of 3Q21 and ended Cryptocurrency Funds latest run of inflows.

Did you find this useful? Get our EPFR Insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Posts

Turkish assets take a roasting in late March

Turkish assets take a roasting in late March

Another volatile week for global asset markets saw investors gravitate to funds offering exposure to gold, technology, diversified developed markets equity, dollar-denominated liquidity and European stocks during the fourth week of March. With risk appetite still at a low ebb, especially among fixed income investors, Bank Loan Funds extended their longest run of outflows since mid-3Q24, High Yield Bond Funds posted their second outflow over the past three and there was a strong reaction to the latest bout of political unrest in Turkey with EPFR-tracked Turkey Bond and Money Market Funds both setting new outflow records.

Better, More Actionable Insights

Let us show you how EPFR can create value for your specific strategy