Mutual funds saw more than half a billion dollars in net redemptions in September, thanks to almost $900 million in redemptions from money market funds.

The Investment Funds Institute of Canada reported that September net sales, excluding re-invested distributions of $695.7 million, totaled -$545 million. Net sales for all funds including re-invested distributions were $150 million.

“Sales in long-term funds for September were $349 million, slightly higher than the prior month. This is encouraging to see since September is historically one of the slower months of the year for long-term fund sales,” said Tom Hockin, IFIC’s president and CEO.

Hockin attributes the heavy flows out of money market funds to higher interest rates. “Due to a rise in interest rates over the past few months redemptions from money market funds in September rose to their highest level since June 2003,” he said.

On the long-term side, sales continue to be concentrated in income-focused asset classes. The dividend and income group saw $563 million in monthly net sales, followed by $330.5 million in balanced funds and $226 million in bond and income funds.

The pure equity asset classes continue to take a pounding. The foreign equity funds saw $384 million in net redemptions during the month, joined by $295.7 million in redemptions from Canadian equity funds and $98.6 million coming out of U.S. equity funds.

IFIC also reported that total assets under management increased in September to $470.5 billion, up 0.5% from $468.1 billion in August. Assets are up 15% from last September’s figure of $408.9 billion.

The biggest winners among fund companies include those with strong dividend and income trust fund offerings. Dynamic for example saw its assets grow 3.7% in the month. It was joined by strong results for Guardian, Manulife, Brandes, Standard Life, Northwest, Acuity, Mawer and Saxon. Among the industry’s big firms, better-than-average performances were turned in by CI, Fidelity, RBC and BMO.

However, AIC suffered a 2.2% drop in assets. It was joined by weakness in Franklin Templeton, AGF, Mackenzie, MD, National Bank and Altamira.

Finally, IFIC also noted the total number of unitholder accounts at 51.0 million, a 0.4% decrease over one year ago.