Global equity funds attract sixth weekly inflow in a row

(Reuters) - Global investors remained net buyers of equity funds for a sixth successive week through July 31, driven by expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would signal a rate cut as early as September, which could reduce corporate borrowing costs.

According to LSEG data, investors acquired global equity funds worth a net $5.19 billion during the week, after buying a net $11.55 billion in the prior seven days.

The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates on Wednesday but Chair Jerome Powell said a cut could indeed come as soon as September if the U.S. economy follows its expected path.

Meanwhile, global stocks were poised to close a volatile week in the red on Friday, as concerns over U.S. economic growth and disappointing tech earnings weighed on sentiment.

By region, Asian funds led with a net $4.05 billion of inflows, marking a ninth consecutive weekly gain, while U.S. funds drew $2.14 billion. European funds, however, experienced net outflows of $240 million.

Investors sold $395 million worth of sectoral equity funds, extending net disposals into a second week. They offloaded communication services, consumer staples and consumer discretionary sector funds worth $681 million, $489 million and $405 million, respectively.

In fixed income, global bond funds remained popular for the 32nd week in a row with net purchases of $12.13 billion.

Global government bond funds gained a net $2.66 billion for a 13th straight weekly inflow. Investors also bought short-term, and corporate bond funds worth a net $1.53 billion and $1.06 billion respectively.

Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) saw net sales of $149 million, the eighth weekly outflow in nine.

Money market funds experienced a second successive week of net outflows, amounting to $3.69 billion.

Among commodities, precious metals funds attracted $939 million as investors remained net buyers for a third successive week. Energy funds also drew a net $53 million.

Data covering 29,615 emerging market funds showed a net outflow of $2.99 billion from equity funds, the largest weekly amount since Jan. 24. Bond funds however, gained a net $323 million.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

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