The Investment Management Association (IMA) has reported total net retail sales of £1.9 billion during February, a £300 million increase on the same period last year.

The February figures represented a £900 million increase on the previous month's figures.

The IMA Sterling Strategic Bond sector was the best-selling sector overall with the Global, North America and Japan emerging as the top-selling equities sector.

The biggest selling asset class was equities with net retail sales of £774 million in February, followed by the Balanced secor  - which includes multi-asset funds -  with £424 million and the bond fund sales accounting for £195 million, less than half of its £562 million monthly average over the past year.

Jane Lowe, director of markets at the IMA, said, 'Equities were again the highest selling asset class in February, led by funds investing in overseas equities.'