And with major central banks led by the U.S. Federal Reserve expected to start increasing interest rates from next year, traders are getting worried about technology shares. Their stellar performance this year has been partially based on the view that interest rates will remain near record lows.
"Hikes plus volatility plus divergences often a market top make," strategists at U.S. investment bank BofA led by Michael Hartnett said in a note. U.S. Treasuries saw their biggest inflows since October 2020 while investment-grade and high-yield bond funds saw large outflows. Cash funds saw the biggest weekly inflows at $27.1 billion, followed by equities at $9 billion.
Short bonds and long equities trades this year have paid handsome dividends. But in a sign that investors are unwinding some of those trades, BofA said its private clients have trimmed their equity positions for the past three weeks, led by outflows from growth and industrial sectors.Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Catherine EvansSubscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.