However, market losses were at fault for the decrease, as most fund categories reported sales in excess of redemptions for the month. Long-term funds—stock, bond, and hybrid funds—had a net inflow of $25.35 billion in January, versus an outflow of $29.43 billion in December, ICI data showed.
Stock funds posted an inflow of $9.05 billion in January, compared with an outflow of $20.43 billion in December. Among stock funds, world equity funds (U.S. funds that invest primarily overseas) posted an inflow of $2.19 billion in January, while funds that invest primarily in the U.S. had an inflow of $6.85 billion.
Bond funds had an inflow of $16.73 billion for the month, compared with an outflow of $7.01 billion in December. Taxable bond funds had an inflow of $12.87 billion and municipal bond funds had an inflow of $3.86 billion.
Money market funds were still the most popular choice for investors—at least for institutional investors—as ICI data showed the funds had an inflow of $59.52 billion in January, on top of the $109.35 billion inflow in December. Funds offered primarily to institutions had an inflow of $67.62 billion, while funds offered primarily to individuals had an outflow of $8.10 billion.
Hybrid funds posted an outflow of $419 million in January, compared with an outflow of $1.99 billion in December.
The ICI data is here.