August 16, 2010
--- Despite the market rally, the direction of the total transfers in July remained fixed income-oriented, according to the results of the Hewitt 401(k) Index. ---
Approximately $449 million (or 0.42% of total assets) moved from equities to fixed income investments during the month, with the majority coming out of company stock funds. Excluding company stock, only $169 million shifted from diversified equities to fixed income investments.
Over three-quarters of the days in July experienced fixed income-oriented transfers.
GIC/stable value funds received nearly half (46%) of the inflows, with $254 million transferring into this asset class. Bond funds received net transfers of $177 million, which represented 32% of the inflows.
As international markets rallied (the MSCI EAFE Index rose 9.5%), international funds also saw inflows of $92 million, which reversed the trend of outflows since February this year, Hewitt said.
Company stock funds experienced the largest outflows of the month, with $280 million transferring out of this asset class. Large U.S. equity also had significant outflows of $162 million, followed by small U.S. equity ($70 million).