Economy May 15, 2026 10:00 AM

AI-led tech surge drives eighth consecutive weekly inflow into global equity funds

Investors pile into technology and bonds as chip demand optimism lifts MSCI World to fresh high

By Avery Klein

Global equity funds recorded their eighth straight week of net inflows through May 13, drawing $39.15 billion as enthusiasm around AI-related technology stocks and optimistic chipmaker outlooks outweighed inflation worries. The MSCI World Index reached a record 1,117.52 after forecasts of robust data-center chip demand, while bond funds also saw substantial purchases.

AI-led tech surge drives eighth consecutive weekly inflow into global equity funds

Key Points

  • Global equity funds posted their eighth consecutive week of inflows, with $39.15 billion in net purchases through May 13.
  • Technology led sector flows with a record $10.65 billion, coinciding with MSCI World reaching 1,117.52 after chipmakers forecast strong data-center demand.
  • Global bond funds drew $25.76 billion, the largest weekly total since early October 2025, led by short-term, euro-denominated and corporate bond fund inflows.

Global equity funds extended a run of positive net flows for the eighth week through May 13, attracting $39.15 billion in net purchases as investors chased an AI-driven rally in technology shares and looked past inflation concerns.

Data from LSEG Lipper show that the weekly net buying of global equity funds was the largest since the $48.55 billion added in the week to April 22. The MSCI World Index climbed to an intraday record of 1,117.52 on Thursday, supported by further gains in tech names after Advanced Micro Devices and Microchip Technology issued forecasts pointing to strong demand for data-center chips during the prior week.

Coverage of 900 MSCI World constituents by LSEG indicated that about 72% of companies reported first-quarter profits above analysts' average estimates, a statistic that accompanied the fund flows and helped underpin investor appetite for equities.

Regionally, U.S. equity funds registered the largest weekly inflow, with $22.37 billion of net purchases, reversing the $2.89 billion net outflow seen the previous week. Asian funds drew $7.62 billion and European equity funds recorded $6.29 billion of weekly net inflows.

By sector, technology led all groups with a record weekly intake of $10.65 billion. Other sectors also attracted net buying, with metals and mining seeing $1.03 billion and industrials drawing $886 million in net purchases.

Fixed income saw material inflows as well. Global bond funds took in $25.76 billion for the week, the largest weekly total since early October 2025, according to the same data set. Short-term bond funds were among the leaders with $2.93 billion of net inflows, followed by euro-denominated bond funds at $2.83 billion and corporate bond funds at $2.47 billion.

Money market funds did not share the same momentum, recording net withdrawals of $9.2 billion in the latest week after a substantial $149.98 billion of net purchases the prior week.

Precious metals funds, which had seen two consecutive weeks of net sales, experienced renewed buying as gold and other precious metal funds attracted $1.77 billion in net inflows.

Emerging markets told a more mixed story. Equity funds focused on emerging markets posted their third straight weekly net outflow of $3.18 billion, while emerging market bond funds continued to draw money, recording a sixth straight weekly inflow of $2.19 billion. These figures are drawn from data covering 28,893 funds.

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Risks

  • Inflation concerns remain a backdrop that investors are currently overlooking, which could re-emerge and affect equity and bond allocations.
  • Emerging market equities experienced a third consecutive weekly outflow, indicating region-specific investor hesitation that could pressure those markets and related sectors.
  • Significant swings in money market flows, demonstrated by a $9.2 billion withdrawal following $149.98 billion of purchases the prior week, reflect potential short-term liquidity shifts that can impact short-term fixed-income instruments.

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