By Reuters

(Reuters) - Global equity funds attracted inflows for a seventh straight week in the period through May 6, supported ‌by upbeat first quarter earnings and hopes for a ‌U.S.-Iran peace agreement.

Investors bought a net $4.35 billion of global equity funds during the week, ​though this was the smallest weekly inflow since March 18, LSEG Lipper data showed.

The MSCI World Index hit a record high of 1,108.94 on Thursday as a rally in technology stocks and strong earnings from ‌chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices ⁠boosted sentiment.

LSEG data covering 1,060 MSCI World constituents showed combined first-quarter earnings rose 22% from a year earlier, ⁠beating analysts' average forecast by about 6.3%.

Asian equity funds led regional inflows with a net $3.35 billion, while European funds drew a net $1.56 billion. ​U.S. funds, ​by contrast, saw net outflows of $2.26 ​billion.

Among sector funds, investors bought ‌a net $2.83 billion of technology funds but sold a net $2.05 billion of healthcare funds.

Global bond funds saw net inflows of $17.04 billion, the largest weekly addition since February 18.

Dollar-denominated medium-term bond funds stood out, attracting a net $4.58 billion, their biggest inflow since February 2. Euro-denominated bond ‌funds and short-term bond funds drew ​a net $1.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.

Demand for ​money market funds was ​the strongest since January 7, with investors pouring in ‌a net $148.18 billion.

Investors, however, sold a ​net $1.08 billion of ​gold and other precious metal funds in a second successive week of outflows.

In emerging markets, investors withdrew a net $63 million ​from bond funds, ending ‌a four-week run of inflows. Equity funds also recorded net ​sales of $1.46 billion, data covering 28,871 funds showed.

(Reporting by ​Gaurav Dogra. Editing by Mark Potter)

This week on Reuters

• Barclays becomes latest brokerage to bet on no Fed rate cuts in 2026

• How investors buy gold and what fuels the market

• Three-Circle seeks to raise up to $1 billion in Hong Kong listing, sources say

• India resumes wheat exports after four years but high prices likely to limit demand