Investing.com -- U.S. equity funds recorded their first inflow in five weeks, while money market funds saw sizable outflows, suggesting a risk-on shift among investors.
According to Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), global stock funds pulled in $25.2 billion in the week to May 14, while bond funds attracted $13.1 billion and crypto funds saw $900 million in inflows. In contrast, $400 million exited gold funds, and $17.5 billion left cash.
Flows into credit were particularly strong, with investment grade and high-yield bonds drawing a combined $8.6 billion—the largest in 10 weeks. Emerging market debt also saw its biggest inflow since January 2023 at $1.5 billion.
Sector-wise, financial stocks received $1 billion, marking their first inflow in seven weeks.
Within U.S. equities, large caps dominated with $18.2 billion in inflows, placing them on track for a record $521 billion in 2025.
Small caps, despite $0.6 billion in weekly inflows, remain on course for a record $68 billion outflow this year.
Real estate stocks are likewise facing a record $25 billion in annual outflows.
On the other hand, gold is heading for a record $85 billion inflow year-to-date.
Strategists led by Michael Hartnett warned that global equity markets are nearing overbought conditions. “Currently 84% of MSCI indices are trading above 50dma/200dma,” the team noted.
The team points to its Global Breadth Rule, which advises selling when over 88% of indices exceed both moving averages. “A good ‘fade-the-rip’ reminder,” they added.
Hartnett highlighted three key market levels currently guiding investor sentiment: the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield at 5%, the {{8827|U.S. dollar index}} (DXY) at 100, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) at 5000.
In what they call the “Tale of the Tape,” the team cautions that another bout of rising yields and a weaker dollar—potentially triggered if U.S. President Donald Trump “loses the long-end”—could spark a stock sell-off. Still, they believe the 30-year Treasury yield will hold the 5% level “for now.”
Hartnett compared the current macro setup to the early 1970s, a period marked by geopolitical shifts, fiscal experimentation, and highly selective equity performance.
“Despite great tech advances, the macro & markets in early ‘70s were all ‘boom & bust,’ ‘stop & go’,” he wrote, adding that today’s “Magnificent 7” tech stocks are mirroring the outperformance of the “Nifty Fifty” back then.
In fixed income, inflows were broad-based in the past week. Investment grade bonds took in $4.9 billion and high-yield bonds $3.6 billion, both posting their third consecutive week of gains.
EM debt extended its inflow streak to four weeks, while municipal bond funds added $800 million. Treasury funds, however, saw $700 million in renewed outflows.
Regionally, U.S. equity funds led with $19.8 billion in inflows, followed by Europe with $2.7 billion and Japan with $800 million. Emerging market stocks recorded a third week of outflows, totaling $3.3 billion.