Stock and bond-focused mutual funds had net inflows of $7 billion in July, a rebound from June's net outflow of $2.3 billion but down 60% from inflows of $17.4 billion in July 2005, according to the latest monthly data from Financial Research Corp.
Among the biggest fund groups, Barclays Global Investors funds had the strongest inflows - $4.7 billion - with the firm's iShares Russell 2000 index ETF pulling in $3.9 billion. American Funds, the top mutual fund complex with $859.1 billion in long-term equity and fixed-income fund assets under management, had the second strongest inflows - $3.5 billion. Vanguard Group came in third with inflows of $1.3 billion for the month.
Boston-based Fidelity turned in the weakest monthly numbers, with outflows of $2.2 billion.