Net assets of UCITS and AIFs have reached EUR 20 trillion for the first time ever, according to the most recent data released published by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA).

The institution has released its latest monthly investment fund industry fact sheet which provides data on UCITS, and AIFs sold in May 2021, at both a European level and by country of fund domiciliation.

Overall, the total net assets of UCITS and AIFs increased by 0.8 percent to reach EUR 20.04 billion.

Despite the major milestone in net assets, UCITS net inflows have significantly decreased in the past month, down from EUR 97 billion in April 2021 to EUR 55 billion this month.

Meanwhile, net sales of UCITS and AIFs totalled EUR 64 billion, a decline from EUR 96 billion in April 2021. Long-term UCITS (UCITS excluding money market funds) recorded EUR 64 billion of net sales, down from EUR 89 billion in April 2021.

Equity funds recorded net sales of EUR 29 billion, compared to 48 billion in April 2021, while bond funds registered net inflows of EUR 15 billion, down from EUR 20 billion.

In some sectors, net inflows remained stable. Multi-asset funds recorded net inflows of EUR 17 billion, similar to EUR 17 billion in April 2021, while UCITS money market funds recorded net outflows of EUR 8 billion, compared to net inflows of EUR 8 billion the previous month.

AIFs reported a rare example of registered net inflows in May 2021. It reported a figure of EUR 8 billion, compared to net outflows of EUR 1 billion in April 2021

EFAMA senior economist Thomas Tilley believed it reflected a solid performance across the month despite the net inflow decreases.

He said: “Net assets of UCITS and AIFs breached the EUR 20 trillion threshold for the first time ever in May, thanks to solid net sales and the strong performance of global stock markets in recent months.”