The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has released the latest international statistical release containing worldwide investment fund industry results for the third quarter of 2012. The main highlights for Q3 2012 include:
Investment fund assets worldwide increased by 2.5 percent to EUR 21.95 trillion in the third quarter of 2012. In U.S. dollar terms, worldwide investment fund assets increased 5.3 percent during the quarter to US$ 28.38 trillion. This difference reflects the depreciation of the US dollar vis-à-vis the euro during the quarter.
Total worldwide net inflows into investment funds amounted to EUR 167 billion during the third quarter, up from EUR 99 billion in the previous quarter. This increase was achieved thanks to stronger net inflows into balanced and bond funds.
Long-term funds (all funds excluding money market funds) registered increased net inflows during the quarter of EUR 175 billion, up from EUR 141 billion in the second quarter.
- Bond funds continued to enjoy strong net inflows (EUR 146 billion), up from EUR 121 billion in the second quarter.
- Equity funds recorded the fifth consecutive quarter of net outflows (EUR 43 billion, up from EUR 14 billion in the previous quarter).
- Balanced/mixed funds registered a large increase in net sales to EUR 38 billion, compared to EUR 2 billion in the previous quarter.
Money market funds registered net outflows of EUR 9 billion, down compared to the second quarter (EUR 42 billion). The United States registered net inflows of EUR 29 billion during the quarter, marking a turnaround compared to the second quarter when net outflows amounted to EUR 53 billion. On the other hand, Europe registered net outflows of EUR 31 billion, up from EUR 1 billion in the previous quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, assets of equity funds represented 37 percent and bond funds represented 24 percent of all investment fund assets worldwide. The asset share of money market funds was 16 percent and the asset share of balanced/mixed funds was 11 percent.
The market share of the ten largest countries/regions in the world market were the United States (49.3%), Europe (28.1%), Australia (5.7%), Brazil (5.5%), Japan (3.6%), Canada (3.5%), China (1.3%), Rep. of Korea (0.9%), South Africa (0.6%) and India (0.4%).