Cyclical behavior of international fund flows

Using monthly data, we investigate the cyclicality of international fund flows employing correlation and regression analysis. International fund flows are investments by funds like mutual funds, exchange traded funds, closed-end funds and hedge funds. Our results suggest that contemporaneously international fund flows tend to be counter-cyclical, i.e. in an economic downswing fund flows move into the country. The cyclicality of bond flows is more significant than that of equity flows. Global factors dominate the behavior of international fund flows, especially for equity flows