Skip to main content
MENU
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • LOGIN
  • Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Alternatives
    • Consultants
    • Coronavirus
    • Courts
    • Defined Contribution
    • ESG
    • ETFs
    • Face to Face
    • Hedge Funds
    • Industry Voices
    • Investing
    • Money Management
    • Opinion
    • Partner Content
    • Pension Funds
    • Private Equity
    • Real Estate
    • Russia-Ukraine War
    • SECURE 2.0
    • Special Reports
    • White Papers
  • Rankings & Awards
    • 1,000 Largest Retirement Plans
    • Top-Performing Managers
    • Largest Money Managers
    • DC Money Managers
    • DC Record Keepers
    • Largest Hedge Fund Managers
    • World's Largest Retirement Funds
    • Best Places to Work in Money Management
    • Excellence & Innovation Awards
    • WPS Innovation Awards
    • Eddy Awards
  • ETFs
    • Latest ETF News
    • Fund Screener
    • Education Center
    • Equities
    • Fixed Income
    • Commodities
    • Actively Managed
    • Alternatives
    • ESG Rated
  • ESG
    • Latest ESG News
    • The Institutional Investor’s Guide to ESG Investing
    • ESG Sustainability - Gaining Momentum
    • ESG Investing | Industry Brief
    • Innovation in ESG Investing
    • 2023 ESG Investing Conference
    • ESG Rated ETFs
  • Defined Contribution
    • Latest DC News
    • DC Money Manager Rankings
    • DC Record Keeper Rankings
    • Innovations in DC
    • Trends in DC: Focus on Retirement Income
    • 2023 Defined Contribution East Conference
  • Searches & Hires
    • Latest Searches & Hires News
    • Searches & Hires Database
    • RFPs
  • Research Center
    • The P&I Research Center
    • Earnings Tracker
    • Endowment Returns Tracker
    • Corporate Pension Contribution Tracker
    • Pension Fund Returns Tracker
    • Pension Risk Transfer Database
  • Careers
  • Events
    • View All Conferences
    • View All Webinars
    • 2023 ESG Investing
    • 2023 Private Markets
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. INVESTING
January 17, 2019 12:00 AM

Mutual funds, ETFs see largest monthly outflow since 2008 in December

Rob Kozlowski
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Getty Images/iStockphoto
    Dollar Bills Coming Out From Chrome Water Tap on a white background

    U.S. mutual fund and exchange-traded funds had an estimated $83 billion in net outflows in December, the largest monthly number since the financial crisis, Morningstar said in an asset flows commentary.

    That month of record outflows — $103 billion — took place in October 2008, the commentary said, noting that last month's net outflows were much less egregious since they accounted for far smaller percentage of total assets: 0.46% vs. 1.43% in October 2008.

    Net outflows in December spanned most asset classes, with taxable bonds faring the worst with $43 billion in estimated net outflows, followed by sector equities with $17.9 billion, allocation funds at $16.5 billion, international equities at $13.1 billion and alternatives, $7.7 billion.

    Money market funds had an impressive December with $57.3 billion in estimated net inflows, finishing up the best year since 2008 at a total $162 billion in net inflows for 2018. Money market fund net inflows totaled $594 billion in 2008.

    Among other asset classes, U.S. equities fared well in December with estimated net inflows of $14.1 billion. Also with estimated net inflows last month were commodities and municipal bonds with $812 million and $191 million, respectively.

    Despite the S&P 500 falling 9% in December, much of what resulted in net inflows for U.S. equities were passive funds, which had estimated net inflows of $45.6 billion in December. Vanguard Group's Total Stock Market Index fund alone collected $14.1 billion in net inflows for the month, Morningstar said.

    "It's possible that flows were so strong because of the December sell-off — not in spite of it, as target-date and other model-driven portfolios rebalanced to increase their U.S. equity allocations," the commentary said.

    Active U.S. equity funds, meanwhile, had estimated net outflows of $31.5 billion in December.

    Related Articles
    Fitch sees negative 2019 outlook for traditional firms but also opportunities f…
    Plan execs need to work to improve fund inflows – Cerulli
    Moody's: Long-term active domestic mutual funds see record outflows in 2018
    Recommended for You
    ONLINE_180429937_AR_0_IXGRGIVQBNGV.jpg
    T. Rowe Price reopens $27 billion New Horizons strategy to new investors
    China NPC
    Consumer, electric vehicle sectors tipped to outperform as China sets 5% GDP growth target
    Elizabeth Burton
    Long-dated Treasuries' horrible year seen as a one-off
    ESG Investing | Industry Brief
    Sponsored Content: ESG Investing | Industry Brief

    Reader Poll

    March 22, 2023
    SEE MORE POLLS >
    Sponsored
    White Papers
    The Need for Speed in Trend-Following Strategies
    Global Fixed Income: Volatility and Uncertainty Here to Stay
    Morningstar Indexes' Annual ESG Risk/Return Analysis
    2023 Outlook: The Top Five Trends to Monitor in the Year Ahead
    Show Me the Income: Discovering plan sponsor and participant preferences for cr…
    The Future of Infrastructure: Building a Better Tomorrow
    View More
    Sponsored Content
    Partner Content
    The Industrialization of ESG Investment
    For institutional investors, ETFs can make meeting liquidity needs easier
    Gold: the most effective commodity investment
    2021 Investment Outlook | Investing Beyond the Pandemic: A Reset for Portfolios
    Ten ways retirement plan professionals add value to plan sponsors
    Gold: an efficient hedge
    View More
    E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS

    Sign up and get the best of News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today
    December 12, 2022 page one

    Get access to the news, research and analysis of events affecting the retirement and institutional money management businesses from a worldwide network of reporters and editors.

    Subscribe
    Connect With Us
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn

    Our Mission

    To consistently deliver news, research and analysis to the executives who manage the flow of funds in the institutional investment market.

    About Us

    Main Office
    685 Third Avenue
    Tenth Floor
    New York, NY 10017-4036

    Chicago Office
    130 E. Randolph St.
    Suite 3200
    Chicago, IL 60601

    Contact Us

    Careers at Crain

    About Pensions & Investments

     

    Advertising
    • Media Kit
    • P&I Content Solutions
    • P&I Careers | Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • FAQ
    • P&I Research Center
    • Site map
    • Staff Directory
    Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Request
    Pensions & Investments
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Topics
      • Alternatives
      • Consultants
      • Coronavirus
      • Courts
      • Defined Contribution
      • ESG
      • ETFs
      • Face to Face
      • Hedge Funds
      • Industry Voices
      • Investing
      • Money Management
      • Opinion
      • Partner Content
      • Pension Funds
      • Private Equity
      • Real Estate
      • Russia-Ukraine War
      • SECURE 2.0
      • Special Reports
      • White Papers
    • Rankings & Awards
      • 1,000 Largest Retirement Plans
      • Top-Performing Managers
      • Largest Money Managers
      • DC Money Managers
      • DC Record Keepers
      • Largest Hedge Fund Managers
      • World's Largest Retirement Funds
      • Best Places to Work in Money Management
      • Excellence & Innovation Awards
      • WPS Innovation Awards
      • Eddy Awards
    • ETFs
      • Latest ETF News
      • Fund Screener
      • Education Center
      • Equities
      • Fixed Income
      • Commodities
      • Actively Managed
      • Alternatives
      • ESG Rated
    • ESG
      • Latest ESG News
      • The Institutional Investor’s Guide to ESG Investing
      • ESG Sustainability - Gaining Momentum
      • ESG Investing | Industry Brief
      • Innovation in ESG Investing
      • 2023 ESG Investing Conference
      • ESG Rated ETFs
    • Defined Contribution
      • Latest DC News
      • DC Money Manager Rankings
      • DC Record Keeper Rankings
      • Innovations in DC
      • Trends in DC: Focus on Retirement Income
      • 2023 Defined Contribution East Conference
    • Searches & Hires
      • Latest Searches & Hires News
      • Searches & Hires Database
      • RFPs
    • Research Center
      • The P&I Research Center
      • Earnings Tracker
      • Endowment Returns Tracker
      • Corporate Pension Contribution Tracker
      • Pension Fund Returns Tracker
      • Pension Risk Transfer Database
    • Careers
    • Events
      • View All Conferences
      • View All Webinars
      • 2023 ESG Investing
      • 2023 Private Markets