Global money market funds draw large inflows on election-driven caution

(Reuters) - Global investors channelised large investments into the safety of money market funds in the week through Oct. 23 on caution over the upcoming elections in the United States and Japan, and the shift in the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

According to LSEG Lipper data, investors racked up a significant $25.78 billion worth of global money market funds during the week, clocking their biggest weekly net purchase since Sept. 25.

Uncertainties around a U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, with polls suggesting a neck-and-neck race in crucial swing states, and potential risks of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party losing its majority in a parliamentary election on Sunday, boosted demand for low-risk assets.

"We have signaled that investors should expect market volatility in the leadup to the US presidential election, and the S&P 500 was sitting at a record high before the declines in recent days," Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said.

"As 5 November inches closer, market sentiment is likely to stay vulnerable."

The U.S. money market funds drew a sharp $29.98 billion in net purchases, contrasting outflows worth $11.79 billion in the prior week.

In parallel, net purchases in global equity funds dropped to a four-week low of $4.2 billion.

Investors sold sectoral funds worth a net $1.59 billion following two successive weeks of net purchases. They sold real estate, tech and financials sector funds worth $725 million, $623 million and $152 million, respectively.

China equity funds were meanwhile, popular for a fourth consecutive week as they garnered about $1.23 billion worth of inflows.

Global bond funds attracted investments for the 44th week in a row, valued at $8.98 billion on a net basis, albeit a seven-week low.

Global short-term and high-yield funds, and dollar-denominated medium-term bond funds attracted a notable $ 1.6 billion, $1.14 billion and $1.24 billion worth of inflows, respectively.

Meanwhile,investors scooped up a robust $1.6 billion worth of gold and precious metal funds in their largest weekly net purchase since Jan. 2022.

Data covering 29,682 emerging market funds showed equity funds received $578 million, their fifth weekly inflow in a row. Bond funds, meanwhile, drew $86 million, the smallest amount in 10 weeks.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)

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