In its quarterly statistical release, EFAMA revealed net inflows for the funds were up €4bn from €26bn in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Ucits excluding money market funds recorded net inflows of €39bn, compared to €67bn in the last quarter. Much of the drop was attributed to the sharp reduction of net inflows to equity funds, though bond and balanced funds enjoyed increased net inflows during the quarter.
Total net assets of non-Ucits increased by 1.2% in the first quarter to reach €2.2trn at the end of March 2011. Much of the increase was attributed to special funds being reserved to institutional investors, which enjoyed net inflows during the quarter of €28bn.
Total net assets of Ucits decreased by 0.9% in Q1 to stand at €6trn at the end of March 2011.
Investors also showed caution following tension in the markets caused by political unrest in North Africa and the disruption caused by the earthquake in Japan and sovereign debt markets.
Money market funds continued to suffer with net outflows of €9bn, a figure which was at least at a lower level than the net outflows of €41bn recorded in the previous quarter and €30bn recorded in the first quarter of 2010.
Net assets of money market funds decreased 2.6% during the quarter, with net assets of equity funds dropping by 1.5% and those of bond funds by 0.4%. Meanwhile balanced funds departed from the trend and enjoyed an increase in net assets of 1.3%.
