The amount of money invested in equity funds is one statistic that indicates this year’s voracious hunger for equities.

Investors put about $ 900 billion into exchange-traded funds and long-term funds in 2021, according to Bank of America Corp. and EPFR Global analysts, more than in the previous 19 years combined.

This statistics emphasizes how extraordinary and record-breaking this year has been. Frenzied shopping and a dearth of other attractive investment alternatives added gasoline to the fire, as a mix of cheap money and an economy on the verge of a pandemic created the setting for an unstoppable surge.

The rise has driven US markets to new highs, and even some bullish Wall Street experts are downgrading their outlook for next year. Investors are still debating how rapidly central banks will hike interest rates to confront stubborn inflation and how badly it would hurt economic development.

Investors have only withdrew from equities funds twice this year, the second time last week, possibly indicating anxiety. According to BofA, there was a $ 2.7 billion outflow from equities funds in the week leading up to November 23.