Sales of bond funds overtook equities in May, generating £497 million in net retail inflows, compared with just £64 million for equity funds.

According to statistics from the Investment Management Association (IMA), sales of equity funds were at their lowest level since February 2009 and a fraction of their £697 million 12-month average.

The biggest selling sector in May was the IMA Sterling Strategic Bond sector for the fifth month running, pulling in net retail sales of £341 million.

The IMA Global sector pulled in £143 million in net retail sales, followed by the IMA Unclassified sector, generating £139 million.

Richard Saunders, chief executive of the IMA, said 'May's figures show the usual levelling off of fund sales following the end of tax year.

'Net retail sales totalled £1.1 billion in May, with bonds replacing equities as the highest selling asset class.'

Year-on-year funds under management grew to £593.8 billion, compared with May 2010. The investment manager trade body also reported the highest sales of individual savings account (ISA) outside the traditional ISA season of March and April since 2000, with net sales of £528 million.

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