Stock Funds Attract Most Money in One Year, EPFR Says (Update2)

By Shiyin Chen
July 31 (Bloomberg) -- Equity funds attracted $9.52 billion in the week ended July 29, the most in more than a year, boosted by better-than-expected corporate earnings and economic data, EPFR Global said.
The inflows to stock funds tracked by the research firm globally were the most since June 2008, according to an e-mailed statement dated July 30. Motorola Inc. rallied 9.4 percent yesterday, the most since November, after the biggest U.S. mobile-phone maker reported a smaller loss than analysts projected, while MasterCard Inc. gained on earnings that topped the average forecast by 11 percent.
Share markets have rallied worldwide this month on optimism the worst of the global economic recession has passed. The MSCI World Index is poised for an 8 percent increase in July, taking its gains for the year to 13 percent. The measure added 0.3 percent to 1,042.21 as of 10:17 a.m. in Singapore.
“Investors responded to a slew of better-than-expected earnings and macroeconomic data in late July by pumping fresh money into a broad range of asset classes,” EPFR said.
European confidence in the economic outlook increased more than economists forecast in July, adding to signs the deepest recession in more than six decades may be bottoming out. An index of executive and consumer sentiment in the 16 nations that use the euro rose to 76, the highest since November, the European Commission in Brussels said yesterday, exceeding a Bloomberg survey that predicted an increase to 75.
U.S. Manufacturing
Orders for U.S. durable goods, excluding automobiles and aircraft, unexpectedly rose in June, signaling manufacturing may expand in the second half of the year. Excluding transportation equipment, demand for goods meant to last several years climbed 1.1 percent, the most in four months, the Commerce Department said July 29 in Washington.
Emerging-market equity funds extended their 2009 gains, with those investing in Asia excluding Japan attracting $1.56 billion during the week, the research company said.
Global emerging-market stock funds posted inflows of $905 million, taking their gains this year to $16 billion. Those investing in Europe, Middle East and Africa shares attracted $229 million, while Latin America stock funds took in $208 million, the statement said.
Excluding money-market funds, those investing in fixed income assets drew $4.36 billion, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based EFPR said.