Global equity funds extended their inflow streak to 12 weeks through August 12, taking in a net $18.62 billion as investors responded to a strong earnings season and U.S. data that reduced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike. LSEG Lipper data showed the weekly total edged above the prior week's $17.27 billion. The backdrop also lifted the MSCI All-Country World Equity Index to a record high of 1,163.05 on Wednesday, after the gauge rose 2.85% last week for its strongest weekly performance since April 17, helped by earnings from AI-related companies such as Caterpillar and Palantir. European equity funds pulled in $13.52 billion, their biggest weekly net inflow since July 8, while U.S. and Asian equity funds also attracted fresh money. Investors shifted within sectors, pulling about $1.7 billion from technology-sector funds after six weeks of net buying, while adding to gold and precious metals equity funds and consumer staples. Bond funds gathered $18.01 billion, a four-week high, and money market funds took in $28.41 billion for a second straight week of inflows. In commodities, gold and other precious metals funds stayed in positive territory for a fifth consecutive week, and energy funds posted their first weekly inflow in three weeks. Emerging-market funds also remained supported, with equity funds recording a fifth straight week of net inflows and bond funds drawing additional investment.