March 13 (Reuters) – U.S. equity funds were under selling pressure for a second straight week through March 11 as Iranian attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure and oil tankers increased the risk of economic stagflation.
Investors divested a net $7.77 billion worth of U.S. equity funds during the week, adding to approximately $21.91 billion worth of net sales in the prior week, data from LSEG Lipper showed.
U.S. crude prices soared 9.7% on Thursday, taking month-to-date gains to about 42.88% as global oil markets grappled with what traders described as the largest oil supply disruption in history, with shipping in the Gulf and the narrow Strait of Hormuz coming close to a standstill.
The equity large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap fund segments recorded net outflows of $20.98 billion, $405 million and $8 million, respectively, while the multi-cap sector saw a net $9.32 billion weekly inflow.
Investors ditched $4.48 billion worth of growth funds but snapped up value funds for a fifth successive week, to the tune of $2.91 billion.
Bond funds remained popular for a 10th successive week, attracting roughly $8.21 billion in net inflows.
Short-to-intermediate government and treasury funds saw roughly $4.05 billion in net inflows, the biggest amount for a week since December 24. Short-to-intermediate investment-grade funds and municipal debt funds also attracted net purchases of $2.77 billion and $614 million, respectively.
U.S. money market funds gained approximately $1.5 billion in net inflows, as investors extended the recent buying streak for a fourth week.
(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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