U.S. equity funds register biggest weekly outflow in over five weeks

(Reuters) - U.S. equity funds logged big outflows in the week to November 30 as investors booked profit after concerns over economic growth resurfaced due to protests in major Chinese cities against strict COVID-19 policies.

Investors were also cautious about the tech sector amid a hit to iPhone production in China.

According to data from Refinitiv Lipper, U.S. equity funds saw outflows of $17.37 billion, the biggest amount for a week since June 15.

Graphic: Fund flows: US equities, bonds and money market funds https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/byprljwjwpe/Fund%20flows%20US%20equities%20bonds%20and%20money%20market%20funds.jpg

Data showed the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average all recorded two straight months of gains through November.

U.S. equity growth and value funds both witnessed outflows for a second straight week, with disposals amounting to $6.8 billion and $1.76 billion, respectively.

Graphic: Fund flows: US growth and value funds

By sector, investors exited tech, financials, and real estate funds worth $647 million, $231 million and $219 million, respectively.

Graphic: Fund flows: US equity sector funds

Data for U.S. bond funds showed investors withdrew $10.41 billion in a fourth straight week of net selling.

U.S. investors sold taxable bond funds of $8.91 billion, marking a third straight week of outflow, while exiting $288 million out of municipal bond funds.

U.S. general domestic taxable fixed income funds recorded outflows of $6.38 billion, the biggest for a week since at least Jan. 2021, while short/intermediate investment-grade, and high yield funds had net selling of $1.23 billion and $1.11 billion respectively.

Graphic: Fund flows: US bond funds

Meanwhile, safer U.S. money market funds received $26.95 billion, the biggest amount in four weeks, and government bond fund attracted $738 million.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru)