May 5 (Reuters) – U.S. equity funds witnessed massive outflows in the week to May 3, undermined by uncertainty over U.S. debt ceiling, caution about the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting and a sell-off in regional bank shares.
Investors exited a net $15.61 billion worth of U.S. equity funds during the reported period, their biggest weekly net selling since March 29, Refinitiv Lipper data showed.
U.S. large-cap funds lost $7.27 billion in net selling, the most since March 29, while small- and mid-cap funds saw outflows of $1.84 billion and $1.29 billion, respectively.
Among sector funds, tech and financials witnessed outflows of a net $706 million and $389 million, respectively, but investors poured in $432 million into consumer staples.
Meanwhile, U.S. money market funds drew a net $31.37 billion worth of inflows, compared with $47.72 billion in net purchases in the week before.
U.S. bond funds, however, saw net outflows of $1.36 billion. Investors pulled out from U.S. bond funds for the third week in a row.
U.S. general domestic taxable fixed income funds witnessed outflows of $1.49 billion. U.S. high yield funds lost $1.77 billion in their first weekly net selling in five weeks.
Meanwhile, U.S. short/intermediate investment-grade funds obtained a net $1.92 billion in their biggest weekly inflow in 10 weeks. Investors also purchased $1.07 billion worth of U.S. government bond funds.
Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
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