Aug 14 (Reuters) – Global equity funds attracted inflows for a 12th consecutive week through August 12, buoyed by optimism over a strong earnings ‌season and data showing weaker-than-expected U.S. payroll growth and easing inflation, ‌which tempered expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike.

Investors bought a net $18.62 billion in global equity ​funds during the week, slightly more than the previous week’s $17.27 billion in net purchases, LSEG Lipper data showed.

The MSCI All-Country World Equity Index, which hit a record high of 1,163.05 on Wednesday, rose 2.85% last week—its best weekly performance since April ‌17—bolstered by strong earnings from ⁠AI-related companies such as Caterpillar and Palantir.

A U.S. Labor Department report on Thursday showed that producer prices were unchanged in July, ⁠reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve could leave interest rates unchanged next month.

By region, European equity funds attracted $13.52 billion, their largest weekly net inflow since July 8. U.S. ​and ​Asian equity funds also recorded inflows of $2.58 ​billion and $4.13 billion, respectively.

Investors, meanwhile, withdrew ‌about $1.7 billion from technology-sector funds, ending a six-week run of net purchases. They, however, bought $1.6 billion in gold and precious metals equity funds and $609 million in consumer staples sector funds.

Weekly net investment in bond funds jumped to a four-week high of $18.01 billion during the week.

Short-term bond funds, euro-denominated bond funds, government bond funds ‌and loan participation funds saw significant buying ​interest, attracting inflows of $4.45 billion, $2.57 billion, $2.24 billion and $1.06 ​billion, respectively.

Money market funds also ​attracted net investments of $28.41 billion, extending their inflow streak to ‌a second consecutive week.

Among commodity funds, investors ​bought a net $2.62 ​billion in gold and other precious metals funds, remaining net buyers for a fifth straight week. Energy funds, meanwhile, recorded their first weekly inflow ​in three weeks, at $434 million.

Data ‌covering 28,966 emerging-market funds showed that equity funds attracted net inflows ​of $3.45 billion for a fifth straight week, while bond funds received ​net investments of $871 million.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra)