Net assets of UCITS and AIFs increased by 4.1 percent in Q2 2021, crossing the EUR 20 trillion threshold, according to the latest quarterly statistics published by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA).

Overall, UCITS and AIFs attracted EUR 228 billion of net inflows over the quarter. Net sales of UCITS amounted to EUR 210 billion, and net inflows into AIFs amounted to EUR 18 billion. During the first half of 2021, UCITS and AIFs attracted EUR 430 billion in net new money.

Meanwhile, demand for equity funds stayed strong. After the record net inflows in Q1 2021 (EUR 133 billion), net sales of equity funds declined but remained historically high at EUR 94 billion, due to Investor confidence in the stock market rebound.

Net sales of other long-term funds also remained robust, with net sales of bond funds amounting to EUR 40 billion over the quarter, only a moderate decrease on the EUR 55 billion received in Q1 2021. Net inflows into multi-asset funds increased from EUR 37 billion in Q1 2021 to EUR 63 billion in Q2 2021.

European households invested EUR 55 billion in investment funds through Q1 2021, a number not seen since Q2 2017. On the other hand, net acquisitions of funds by European insurers and pension funds declined to EUR 18 billion, from EUR 71 billion in Q4 2020.

Bernard Delbecque, Senior Director for Economics and Research – “Net sales of long-term UCITS, in particular equity funds, remained very strong in Q2 2021, as the successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign and the recovery of the global economy boosted investor confidence.”