$1.38bn withdrawn from India-focused funds in H1 2011

Global investors continued to withdraw their money from India-focused equity funds in the first six months of 2011, pulling out $1.38 billion even as inflows into funds targeting developed markets touched nearly $50 billion.

The net cash raked in by developed market-focused funds was $49.44 billion in the January-June period of the year, compared to an outflow of $34.81 billion in the year-ago period, according to international fund tracking firm EPFR.

However, India dedicated funds remained alienated and witnessed redemptions of $1.38 billion in the first half of of 2011, compared to the outflow of $758 million in the year-ago period.

In the January-March quarter of 2011, investors withdrew $857 million from India-focused funds.

Market experts attributed outflows from India to high inflation prevailing in the country.

Consequently, investors parked funds in developed nations. US-focused equity funds took in $20.30 billion in the first half of 2011, while global equity funds attracted $23.85 billion, funds targeted at Western Europe pulled in $4.5 billion and Japan funds witnessed the inflow of $1.63 billion.

Overall, emerging market equity funds saw the net outflow of $11.72 billion in the period under review.

Analysts believe that investors are shifting money from emerging market equity funds to developed nations due to the ongoing struggle against inflation in many key markets.

The crisis in the West Asia, Greece debt problems and Japan's nuclear situation also drove investors out of emerging markets.

Three out of the four major categories of emerging market equity funds -- namely Asia ex-Japan, Latin America, Global Emerging Market and Europe, West Asia and Africa -- witnessed outflows in the first half of 2011.
    
The Asia ex-Japan category funds were the worst performer, seeing the outflow of $6.96 billion, followed by Latin America funds ($3.55 billion) and global emerging market ($2.38 billion).
    
In contrast, EMEA funds saw the inflow of $1.18 billion.
    
China and Brazil-focused funds also saw big outflows, with China-targeted funds seeing the pullout of $1.81 billion and $147 million withdrawn from funds aimed at Brazil.
    
On the other hand, Russia-focused funds took in $3.14 billion in the first six months of the year.
    
In terms of sectors, commodities was the best performer with inflows of $7.15 billion in the first six months of 2011, followed by real estate, with an intake of $6.43 billion, and the energy sector, with investors pumping in $5.41 billion.