Equity fund inflows rise as war risks recede, upbeat earnings boost mood

Traders work on the options floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Global equity funds received a fourth successive weekly inflow in the week through April 15 as upbeat earnings and increased optimism that the Iran war could be resolved more quickly than expected boosted risk appetite.

Investors allocated a net of US$31.26 billion to global equity funds in their largest weekly purchase since March 25, LSEG Lipper data showed.

Benchmark Brent crude held broadly below $100 a barrel this week, helping to ease inflation concerns. A potential meeting between the United States and Iran over the weekend could pave the way for a near-term resolution to the Middle East conflict.

U.S. equity funds had an allotment of $21.25 billion, the fourth weekly net purchase in a row. Investors added $9.38 billion to European funds but divested Asian funds of a net $2.06 billion.

Sectoral funds had $6.74 billion of weekly net purchases after a net $4.86 billion inflow the week before. Tech, industrial and metals and mining sectors led with $5.46 billion, $1.37 billion and $633 million net allocations.

Global bond fund flows eased to a net of $7.59 billion during the week from roughly $14.5 billion a week ago.

Short-term bond funds had weekly outflows of $7.08 billion, broadly reversing the prior week’s $7.5 billion net inflows. High-yield, euro-denominated and government bond funds gained $3.64 billion, $1.15 billion and $827 million of net inflows.

Money market funds had a net sale of $173.24 billion, the largest weekly outflow since at least September 2018.

Gold and other precious metals commodity funds remained popular for the third successive week, gaining inflows to the tune of roughly $822 million.

Emerging markets had a second successive week of net investments as investors pumped $3.63 billion into equity funds and $2.11 billion into bond funds, data for a combined 28,807 funds showed.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra; Editing by Jane Merriman)