(Reuters) – Global equity funds pulled in massive inflows in the week ended July 28, boosted by optimism over corporate earnings, with investors taking fresh positions as equities recovered from earlier declines in the month.

Data from Lipper showed global equity funds received a net $16.6 billion in the week, the biggest in five weeks.

U.S. equity funds accounted for about half of the inflows, gaining $8.04 billion, while European and Asian funds obtained $3.44 billion and $2.6 billion respectively.

Graphic: Fund flows into global equities bonds and money markets: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/jnpweglzbpw/Fund%20flows%20into%20global%20equities%20bonds%20and%20money%20markets.jpg

Upbeat results from tech heavy weights such as Google parent Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp lifted MSCI’s gauge of global stocks to fresh peaks this week.

According to Refinitiv data for second quarter corporate results, earnings for 72% of global large and mid-cap companies have topped their consensus analyst estimates.

However, investors sold Chinese equity funds worth a net $1.1 billion, on concerns over regulatory crackdowns on education, property and tech sectors.

Graphic: Global fund flows into equity sectors: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/zgvomwjeyvd/Global%20fund%20flows%20into%20equity%20sectors.jpg

Tech sector funds drew a net inflow of $1.1 billion, while consumer staples and healthcare funds obtained over $500 million each.

Global bond funds secured a net $7.4 billion worth of inflows, the biggest in three weeks, with inflation-protected bond funds receiving record $2.1 billion worth of inflows in the week.

Doubts over a faster economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over the Delta variant have lifted inflows into bond markets this month.

Graphic: Global bond funds’ flows in the week ended July 28: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/byprjoxddpe/Global%20bond%20funds’%20flows%20in%20the%20week%20ended%20July%2028.jpg

Global money market funds received inflow worth $22 billion, the biggest in three weeks.

An analysis of 23,708 emerging market funds showed investors sold a net $548 million in equity funds and $90 million in bonds funds in the week.

Graphic: Fund flows into EM equities and bonds: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/akpezgnryvr/Fund%20flows%20into%20EM%20equities%20and%20bonds.jpg

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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