Europe Forsaken in ETFs as Record Money Pulled on Economy

By Sofia Horta e Costa Oct 13, 2014 11:46 AM ET

Investors have had enough of Europe.

Amid a global selloff that has sent the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index down 5.2 percent in three weeks, losses have been almost twice as big in the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, where last week’s 4.5 percent retreat was the largest since 2012. A record $1 billion was withdrawn from an exchange-traded fund tracking Europe in the period as Mario Draghi, the central-bank president, warned of signs the recovery is losing momentum.

Investors are bailing as the economy threatens to fall back into another recession just after ending the longest contraction in its history last year. Equity losses approaching $1.6 trillion since September mark a reversal for markets that fund managers named as the favorites as recently as July.

“Last week really shook markets, and Europe found itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons,” said Jeremy Gaudichon, who manages European equities at KBL Richelieu Gestion in Paris. “It’s crazy that we’re even talking about the risk of recession again. Of course international investors would want to cut their exposure.”

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-12/europe-forsaken-in-etfs-as-record-money-pulled-on-economy.html