Cash flow into the nation's stock funds was on the rise in May, according to data released today by the Investment Company Institute (ICI). Equity portfolios took in about $11.2 billion in net new cash in May, versus inflows of $8.6 billion in April.

The ICI said that among stock funds, world equity funds (funds that invest primarily overseas) posted an inflow of $6.0 billion in May, versus an inflow of $6.4 billion in April. Funds that invest primarily in the U.S. had an inflow of $5.2 billion in May, compared with an inflow of $2.3 billion in April.

Year-to-date through the end of May, stock funds have received about $67.4 billion in net new cash, well below the $108.1 billion figure recorded in the year-ago period.

Long-term funds — stock, bond, and hybrid funds — collectively had a net inflow of $17.1 billion in May, compared with net inflow of $12.4 billion in April.

Bond funds caught investor interest and took a leap. They took in $3.6 billion in May, compared with an inflow of $1.2 billion in April. Taxable bond funds had an inflow of $2.9 billion in May, compared with an inflow of $1.8 billion in April. Municipal bond funds saw an inflow of $697 million in May, compared with an outflow of $599 million in April.

Money-market funds had an inflow of $13.8 billion in May, compared with an outflow of $35.4 billion in April. Funds offered primarily to institutions had an inflow of $16.7 billion. Funds offered primarily to individuals had an outflow of $2.9 billion.

Overall, the combined assets of the nation's mutual funds increased by $204.3 billion, or 2.6%, to $8.12 trillion in May

NET NEW CASH FLOW OF LONG-TERM FUNDS (BIL.$)

May 2005 April 2005* YTD 2005 YTD 2004*
Stock Mutual Funds 11.19 8.63 67.35 108.10
Taxable Bond Mutual Funds 2.86 1.78 9.24 -7.40
Municipal Bond Mutual Funds 0.70 -0.60 1.39 -7.87
Hybrid Mutual Funds 2.34 2.63 18.27 22.11

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