U.S. equity fund inflows surge on optimism over Mideast ceasefire

April 10 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌investors ramped ​up ​purchases of equity funds in the week to April 8, as hopes ‌for a two-week Middle East ceasefire boosted ⁠expectations for a reopening of the Strait of ‌Hormuz to oil and ‌gas flows.

Investors acquired U.S. equity funds worth a net $9.76 billion, roughly 80% more than ​the prior week's $5.42 billion purchases, LSEG Lipper data showed.

Israel sought talks with Lebanon on ⁠Thursday, ahead of anticipated peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran ​on Saturday, raising hopes of a de-escalation and reopening of the vital waterway.

Investors ​bought sectoral funds totaling $2.84 ‌billion, booking the first weekly net inflow in three weeks. They ⁠added tech, industrial and utility sector funds of $2.43 billion, $994 million and $494 million, respectively, on a net ⁠basis.

Bond funds drew $9.6 billion in inflows, broadly reversing $10.14 billion ​outflows the week before.

Short-to-intermediate government and Treasury funds gained a hefty $7.28 billion, compared with $366 million net purchases a ‌week ago. Investors also bought municipal debt funds and inflation-protected funds ‌of $866 million and $709 million, respectively.

Money market funds, ⁠meanwhile, received a gross $9.7 ‌billion, with inflows ​extending into a second successive week.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra; Editing by David ‌Holmes)

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