Mutual fund net sales likely came in between $257.9 million and $757.9 million in April, according to preliminary data released Monday by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada.

IFIC reported that long-term funds were likely responsible for most of the positive net sales total for a change, with money market funds in modest net redemptions during the month.

However, this is not the case at industry leader, RBC, which had $665 million in money market net sales for the month, versus just $152 million in long-term net sales.

The continued strength in RBC’s money market funds was offset by notable redemptions from these funds at CIBC Asset Management ($241 million), TD Asset Management ($180 million), and IGM Financial ($142 million).

While RBC was the sole source of strength for money market sales, a handful of firms had over at $100 million in long-term net sales for the month, led by Scotia Securities at $181 million. RBC was second, followed by Dynamic Mutual Funds. TD, CIBC, and Fidelity Investments Canada, all also had more than $100 million in long-term net sales for the month, according to IFIC.

The trade group also estimates that that industry net assets will be between $514.6 billion and $519.6 billion for the month, up approximately 3.96% from last month’s total of $497.4 billion.

“After a $20 billion increase in assets under management in March, preliminary estimates show that assets increased by another $20 billion in April. This is certainly good news for mutual fund investors,” said Pat Dunwoody, vice president of member services and communications with IFIC. “In addition, on the sales side, investors appeared much more confident last month moving assets from money market funds back into long-term fund categories,” she said.

IE