IMA Sector Fund Flows

Investors are sticking with funds but look to reduce their risk exposure.

Chetan Modi | 28-10-08 | E-mail Article

The latest fund flow statistics released by the IMA paints a picture of investors continuing to reduce risk across the board. Some investors are leaving funds completely and the latest data is quite telling. Net sales of UK domiciled fund ISAs saw outflows of £250.9mn in September 2008. That outflow of assets is slightly higher than the month of August and is a continuation of a trend of outflows from ISA funds. However, net retail sales across all asset classes of UK domiciled funds were only down by £21mn which suggests that investors are largely sticking with funds even if they are altering their risk exposures.

During September, retail investors fled to funds that are more likely to weather a recessionary environment. The worst selling sectors included Europe ex UK and Specialist, and in aggregate, retail investors pulled money out of the bond and equity sector groups. In contrast, they appeared to favour the multi-asset approach of the managed sectors. Even here, however, investors plumped for the more defensive sectors, putting £59mn and £39mn into Balanced Managed and Cautious Managed funds respectively. Somewhat surprisingly, the best selling sector during the month was UK Equity Income, with £174.3mn in net retail inflows. Prior to the downturn, the sector had a reputation as a haven for more conservative investors, but its high financials exposure has left it badly exposed to the credit crisis.

Retail investors also pulled a net £27.5mn out of the UK Money Market sector--the group's first net outflow since April 2007, when £8.6mn left the sector.

Chetan Modi is a fund analyst with Morningstar UK. He would like to hear from you, but cannot give financial advice. You can contact the author via this feedback form.
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