Investors have poured $22bn into short-term US government debt this year after concerns over Donald Trump’s economic and trade policies set off a race for haven assets and sent stocks tumbling.
Net inflows into short-dated Treasury funds hit about $21.7bn between early January and March 14, according to EPFR data, setting the stage for the biggest quarterly flood into the vehicles in two years. Flows into long-term government bond funds were also positive for the quarter to date, but totalled a much smaller $2.6bn.
The cascade of money into shorter-dated government debt comes as investors have sought shelter from a sell-off in riskier assets, such as stocks and junk-rated corporate bonds, amid deepening worries that Trump’s aggressive trade agenda will slow growth in the world’s biggest economy and stoke higher inflation.