Investor capitulation yet to show up in equity flows: Bank of America

Equity funds are still seeing inflows despite deeply pessimistic sentiment, with “final capitulation” not yet here, according to strategists at Bank of America (BofA) .
 

Global stock funds had inflows of $9.2 billion in the week through October 19, according to a note from the bank citing EPFR Global data.
 

Cash funds saw addition of $14.5 billion, while $12.2 billion left bonds. Gold had redemption of $1.5 billion, the data shows.
 

The report comes after BofA’s fund manager survey earlier this week showed investors had thrown in the towel on equities and global growth.
 

But with inflation remaining persistently high and risks of a recession growing, stock markets have more room to fall, strategist Michael Hartnett wrote in the flows note, dated Oct. 20. 
 

Hartnett said he remains negative “despite ubiquitous bearsentiment,” with global recession and credit shocks just starting. US equities are having a roller-coaster month as investors waver between some signs of resilience in corporate earnings and worries of a staunchly hawkish Federal Reserve and looming recession. The S&P 500 index is set for a weekly gain, but has struggled to rise for two consecutive weeks since mid-August.
 

Strategists at Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley also warned this week that both earnings estimates and equities have yet to fully reflect the outlook for slowing global growth. Even JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Marko Kolanovic, who has been Wall Street’s most vocal bull this year, trimmed risk allocations in the bank’s model portfolio as he grows more cautious. 
 

Bank of America’s note showed the exodus from European stock funds continued for a 36th straight week. US funds had a second straight week of inflows at $12 billion.
 

By trading style, US large cap and value saw additions, while growth and small cap had outflows. By sector, technology and energy had the biggest inflows, while $2.1 billion left materials.