IMA Sector Fund Flows
Investors are sticking with funds but look to reduce their risk exposure.
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.