Risk-averse investors shun equities and seek safety in bonds in April

Calastone Fund Flow Index

Data from the latest Calastone Fund Flow Index has shown investors continue to exercise caution when it comes to equities, with the weakest start to a year for equity fund sales in the index's four-year history.

Despite the steady rise in global share prices since the beginning of 2019, Calastone's research has revealed this has done little to encourage investors to increase equity fund holdings. The year-to-date inflows into equity funds sits at a meagre £169m with £62.7m added last month, a "tiny drop in the ocean" compared to their total assets of £700bn. This compares to inflows of £4bn into equity funds between January and April last year, despite rocky stockmarkets. Calastone launches Fund Flow Index; finds weaker inflows in 2018 The FFI score for equity in April was 50.2 - just a...