During the second quarter of 2006, the Swedish stock exchange fell by 8.5 per cent, which prompted households to sell shares in equity funds. Because households sold for more than they bought, households’ net savings in equity funds amounted to minus SEK 15 billion. Households have had negative net savings in equity funds in the four preceding quarters but this quarter's net savings were considerably lower.
Fund wealth decreases
Households' directly-owned fund wealth amounted to SEK 390 billion at the end of the second quarter, which represents a decrease of SEK 42 billion since the end of the first quarter. Households also own funds indirectly, where ownership via unit linked funds amounted to SEK 312 billion and ownership via the premium pension system amounted to SEK 196 billion.
The total fund wealth for all sectors, including among others financial corporations, foreign owners, the social insurance sector and households, amounted at the end of the second quarter to SEK 1,216 billion. This is a decrease compared with the previous quarter when the corresponding figure was SEK 1,295 billion.
Substantial savings in money market funds
Households' net savings in both equity funds and mixed funds were negative during the quarter. Households chose instead to invest in funds of funds, money market funds and other funds.
When looking at all sectors, net savings in equity funds were minus SEK 28 billion during the quarter. Net savings in money market funds were positive with SEK 20 billion, which is considerably higher than during the previous quarters.
Falling stock markets both in Sweden and abroad
At the end of the second quarter of 2006, equity funds accounted for 56 per cent of the total fund wealth, or SEK 677 billion in monetary terms.
During the second quarter, the Stockholm stock exchange fell by 8.5 per cent. Also the US stock exchange fell during the quarter. However, the Stockholm stock exchange rose somewhat compared to the beginning of the year.