Net sales of UCITS and AIFs totalled EUR 38 billion in February 2021, down from EUR 83 billion in the previous month, according to the monthly investment fund industry fact sheet published by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA).

The report provides UCITS and AIFs sold in February 2021 at European level and by country of fund domiciliation. It revealed that UCITS recorded net inflows of EUR 34 billion, compared to EUR 66 billion in January 2021, while AIFs recorded net inflows of EUR 3 billion, down from EUR 17 billion in January 2021. Total net assets of UCITS and AIFs increased by 0.6 percent to EUR 19.1 trillion.

Despite the decline in net sales for UCITs and AIFs generally, demand for long-term UCITS remained strong in February.  Long-term UCITS (excluding money market funds) recorded EUR 88 billion of net sales, up from EUR 83 billion in January 2021.

Meanwhile, the report also revealed that multi-asset funds recorded net inflows of EUR 10 billion, up from EUR 4 billion in January 2021. Equity funds registered net inflows of EUR 52 billion, compared to EUR 55 billion in the previous month, while net sales of bond funds have amounted to EUR 22 billion, comparable to EUR 23 billion in the last report.

Casting the findings in a favourable light, Bernard Delbecque, senior director for economics and research commented: “Net sales of UCITS equity funds remained exceptionally high in February, as high hopes on the Covid-19 vaccines prevailed over the risks posed by the variants of the virus.”