U.S. mutual fund sales signal retail investor caution

[November 30, 2018]  By Trevor Hunnicutt

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mutual fund investors pulled $13.7 billion from stocks and bonds during the latest week, according to data released on Thursday by Lipper underscoring retail investors' rising concerns over turbulent markets.

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen through a printed stock graph in this illustration taken February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

After a sprinting start to 2018 that saw markets rally, the following months have brought concerns over tariffs, rising U.S. interest rates and slowing economic growth. The combination has led, unusually, to mediocre returns across several types of financial assets, including both stocks and bonds.

The average U.S.-based stock fund is down 2.6 percent this year while the typical bond fund has fallen 1.3 percent, according to Refinitiv's Lipper research service.

"We had a flop in oil and I think it had people concerned about the global growth issue," said Tom Roseen, head of research services for Lipper.

"People were still waiting to see what is going to happen."

Benchmark U.S. crude oil futures fell further during the week from their highs this year approaching $80, and on Thursday were down around $51. Meanwhile, trade tariffs continue to be at the top of investors' worry list ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) showed positive sales across stocks and bonds during the week, according to Lipper's data for the seven days through Nov. 28.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by James Dalgleish and Tom Brown)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.