In March 2010, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds was higher than one quarter earlier in December 2009. This increase was due both to increases in share/unit prices and to net issues of shares/units.

The amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds increased to EUR 5,291 billion in March 2010, from EUR 4,965 billion in December 20091. Over the same period, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area
money market funds decreased to EUR 1,174 billion from EUR 1,202 billion.

The transactions in shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds amounted to EUR 130 billion in the first quarter of 2010, while the transactions in shares/units issued by money market funds amounted to EUR -44 billion.

The annual growth rate of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market
funds, calculated on the basis of transactions, was 11.9% in March 2010. For the same period, the annual growth rate of shares/units issued by euro area money market funds was -10.2%.

Regarding the assets of euro area investment funds other than money market funds, the annual growth rate of securities other than shares was 16.3% in March 2010, with transactions amounting to EUR 66 billion during the first quarter. In the case of shares and other equity the corresponding annual growth rate was 15.8%, with first-quarter transactions of EUR 30 billion. For
holdings of investment fund shares/units the annual growth rate was 8.3%, with first-quarter transactions of EUR 30 billion.

In terms of the breakdown by investment policy, the annual growth rate of shares/units issued by
bond funds was 17.4% in March 2010. The transactions in shares/units issued by bond funds amounted to EUR 73 billion in the first quarter of 2010. The respective annual growth rate and transactions of equity funds were 15.6% and EUR 17 billion. For mixed funds the corresponding figures were 4.1% and EUR 8 billion.

Regarding the assets of euro area money market funds, the annual growth rate of securities other
than shares was -4.7% in March 2010 (within this item, the annual growth rate of securities issued by euro area residents was -4.7%), with transactions amounting to EUR -27 billion during the first quarter; for deposit and loan claims the annual growth rate was -25.6% and transactions equalled EUR -6 billion. For holdings of money market fund shares the annual growth rate was -28.7% with transactions of
EUR -7 billion.