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28 associations representing more than 99 percent of total UCITS and AIF assets at end December 2017 provided us with net sales and/or net assets data.

The main developments in December 2017 in the reporting countries can be summarized as follows:

• Net sales of UCITS and AIF totaled EUR 28 billion, down from EUR 72 billion in November.

• UCITS registered net sales of EUR 29 billion, down from EUR 62 billion in November.

o Long-term UCITS (UCITS excluding money market funds) recorded net sales of EUR 49 billion, down from EUR 63 billion in November.

* Net sales of equity funds totaled EUR 15 billion, down from EUR 26 billion in November.
* Net sales of bond funds totaled EUR 18 billion, down from EUR 29 billion in November.
* Net sales of multi-asset funds totaled EUR 16 billion, down from EUR 20 billion in November.
* Net sales of other UCITS recorded net inflows of EUR 0.9 billion, compared to net outflows of EUR 12 billion in November.

o UCITS money market funds registered net outflows of EUR 21 billion, compared to net outflows of EUR 1 billion in November.

• AIF recorded net outflows of EUR 1 billion, compared to net inflows of EUR 10 billion in November.

• Total net assets of UCITS and AIF amounted to EUR 15,696 billion at end December, compared to EUR 15,658 billion at end November.

Bernard Delbecque, Director of Economics and Research commented: "Net sales of UCITS and AIF in December dropped to the lowest level of the year. This primarily reflected net outflows from money market funds, a normal development at year end, as well as a noteworthy drop in net sales of bond funds amid uncertainty over interest rates."

The main developments in 2017 can be summarized as follows:

• Net sales of UCITS and AIF reached EUR 937 billion in 2017 (EUR 457 billion in 2016).

• UCITS net sales amounted to EUR 736 billion (EUR 273 billion in 2016).

o Long-term UCITS net sales totaled EUR 667 billion (EUR 163 billion in 2016).
* Equity funds registered net inflows of EUR 157 billion (compared to net outflows of EUR 10 billion in 2016).
* Bond funds registered net sales of EUR 314 billion (EUR 115 billion in 2016).
* Multi-assets funds registered net sales of EUR 180 billion (EUR 41 billion in 2016).
* Other UCITS registered net sales of EUR 16 billion (EUR 17 billion in 2016).
o Money market funds registered net sales of EUR 69 billion (EUR 110 billion in 2016).

• AIF recorded net sales of EUR 201 billion (EUR 184 billion in 2016).

• Net assets of UCITS and AIF increased to EUR 15,696 billion (EUR 14,190 billion at end 2016).

The following comments shed additional light on the main developments in 2017.
• 2017 was an exceptional year for the European investment fund industry, with net assets of UCITS and AIF surpassing the EUR 15 trillion mark and net sales breaking the prior record set in 2015 by more than EUR 200 billion.

• All types of UCITS recorded strong net sales in 2017, with bond funds reaching their highest annual net sales ever.
o Buoying stock markets, on the back of a cyclical upswing, increased investor confidence and boosted net inflows into equity funds.
o The net sales of bond funds rebounded strongly in 2017 to reach an exceptional all-time high. The low volatility and diversification benefits offered by bond funds have most certainly helped boost investor demand in a market environment which remained characterized by very low interest rates.

o Multi-asset funds experienced solid net sales throughout the year, but did not break the record set in 2015 (EUR 240 billion).

• Despite low or even negative returns, money market funds registered net inflows for the fourth consecutive year, confirming that money market funds remain an important tool for investors, enabling them to manage their cash within a diversified strategy and avoid counterparty credit risk.

• Net sales of AIF also reached a record high during 2017, surpassing EUR 200 billion of net sales.