European Fund and Asset Management Association reports slower global fund flows in Q1 2026 as assets rise to EUR 81.5 tn

The European Fund and Asset Management Association has published its International Quarterly Statistical Release for Q1 2026, showing that global investment fund flows slowed even as worldwide fund assets increased. Net assets rose 1.4% in euro terms to EUR 81.5 tn, while long-term funds still recorded positive net inflows of EUR 668 bn, down from EUR 907 bn in Q4 2025. China was the main drag, shifting from inflows to net outflows, while net sales in Europe and the United States also declined but remained positive. Measured in USD, worldwide fund assets fell 0.7% to USD 93.7 tn because of USD appreciation against the euro. In local currency terms, assets fell 0.9% in the United States and rose 0.5% in Europe. By product, equity fund inflows dropped to EUR 179 bn from EUR 348 bn, bond funds remained strong at EUR 330 bn, multi-asset funds slowed to EUR 69 bn, and global exchange traded funds attracted EUR 494 bn, down from EUR 699 bn. Regionally, the United States led long-term inflows with EUR 321 bn and Europe followed with EUR 213 bn, largely driven by Ireland and Luxembourg, while China moved to EUR 60 bn of long-term outflows and posted sizeable equity and ETF outflows. Money market fund inflows also declined sharply to EUR 165 bn from EUR 401 bn, with China, Europe and the United States remaining in positive territory.