The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), has today published its latest International Statistical Release showing strong growth of investment fund assets worldwide in Q1, driven by the recovery in the financial markets.
Worldwide Investment fund assets worldwide increased by 9.2 per cent to EUR48 trillion at the end of the quarter, while worldwide bond funds recorded net inflows of EUR236 billion in Q1 2019, compared to net outflows of EUR59 billion in Q4 2018. These strong global sales were mostly driven by inflows in the United States (EUR123 billion), Europe (EUR80 billion) and emerging markets (EUR21 billion, of which EUR20 billion in China).
Global Equity funds meanwhile, recorded net outflows of EUR22 billion in Q1 2019, compared to net inflows of EUR99 billion in Q4 2018. Europe registered net outflows (EUR37 billion), which were not fully offset by limited inflows in the other advanced economies (EUR10 billion), the United States (EUR3 billion) and emerging markets (EUR3 billion).
Bernard Delbecque, Senior Director for Economics and Research, says: “The shift towards a more accommodative monetary policy in early 2019 in response to the slowdown in global economic outlook has led to a shift in investor demand from equity funds to bond funds.”
