March 13 (Reuters) - U.S. equity funds were under

selling pressure for a second straight week through March 11 as

Iranian attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure and oil

tankers increased the risk of economic stagflation.

Investors divested a net $7.77 billion worth of U.S. equity

funds during the week, adding to approximately $21.91 billion

worth of net sales in the prior week, data from LSEG Lipper

showed.

U.S. crude prices soared 9.7% on Thursday, taking

month-to-date gains to about 42.88% as global oil markets

grappled with what traders described as the largest oil supply

disruption in history, with shipping in the Gulf and the narrow

Strait of Hormuz coming close to a standstill.

The equity large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap fund segments

recorded net outflows of $20.98 billion, $405 million and $8

million, respectively, while the multi-cap sector saw a net

$9.32 billion weekly inflow.

Investors ditched $4.48 billion worth of growth funds but

snapped up value funds for a fifth successive week, to the tune

of $2.91 billion.

Bond funds remained popular for a 10th successive week,

attracting roughly $8.21 billion in net inflows.

Short-to-intermediate government and treasury funds saw

roughly $4.05 billion in net inflows, the biggest amount for a

week since December 24. Short-to-intermediate investment-grade

funds and municipal debt funds also attracted net purchases of

$2.77 billion and $614 million, respectively.

U.S. money market funds gained approximately $1.5 billion in

net inflows, as investors extended the recent buying streak for

a fourth week.

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