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Emerging markets funds catch a wave in mid-January
Emerging markets funds catch a wave in mid-January

Flows into EPFR-tracked Emerging Markets Equity Funds during the third week of January climbed to their highest level since mid-1Q21 as investors positioned themselves for China’s much anticipated economic rebound and, the anti-inflation rhetoric of the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) notwithstanding, an early end to the current interest rate cycles in the US and Europe. Investors also steered $2.5 billion – a 101-week high – into Emerging Markets Bond Funds.

Bond Funds buoyed by lower inflation
Bond Funds buoyed by lower inflation

Evidence that inflation is falling and global growth is stalling gave EPFR-tracked Bond Funds a shot in the arm during the first full week of January. Ahead of December’s CPI number, which showed US inflation grew at a 13-month low of 6.45% in the final month of 2022, investors committed over $17 billion to all Bond Funds.

Investors tip-toe into the New Year
Investors tip-toe into the New Year

Over $110 billion – a 131-week high – flowed into EPFR-tracked Money Market Funds during the week ending Jan. 4 as investors surveyed an investment landscape still being reshaped by inflation, tighter monetary policy and geopolitical forces.

Mixed signals for emerging markets
Mixed signals for emerging markets

Despite China’s first steps away from the zero-Covid policies that have sapped its economy and some optimistic forecasts for 2023, investors tapped EPFR-tracked Emerging Markets Equity Funds for $2.4 billion – a 13-week high outflow – in early December 2022.

Investors batten down the hatches going into the third quarter
Investors batten down the hatches going into the third quarter

Investors pulled money out of all the major EPFR-tracked fund groups during the final week of June as they closed the books on a quarter that saw inflation in Europe hit record highs, energy prices soar, the US Federal Reserve deliver their biggest rate hike at a single meeting since 1994 and the benchmark S&P Index endure its worst opening half of any year since 1970.