Stocks could struggle after record outflows, history shows

Investors just pulled money out of stocks at a record pace and, if history is any indication, equities could struggle before recovering.

Data compiled by the Lipper team at Refinitiv showed investors pulled $46.2 billion from U.S. equity mutual funds and exchange-traded funds between Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. This is the biggest one-week outflow on record, according to Lipper.

Such strong outflows are typically seen as a contrarian indicator to buy back into stocks, but it could take some time for equities to start climbing back.

CNBC looked at the 10 largest weekly outflow numbers over the past 10 years. Using Kensho Analytics, CNBC found the median gain for the S&P 500 one week after these outflows is just 0.4 percent. Returns a month after are not great either, with the median coming in at 0.3 percent.

Stocks start turning significantly higher after three months, the analysis shows. The S&P 500's three-month median return after these outflows tops 3 percent. The index's median gain six months after outflows hits 4 percent.

Investors are draining money from stocks as Wall Street grapples with uncertainty around the U.S.-China trade war and fears over a possible global economic slowdown.

The U.S. and China are working toward striking a permanent deal on trade after agreeing Dec. 1 to a 90-day truce on tariffs. However, experts fear the grace period will not be enough to put together a deal that addresses the issues concerning both China and the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government reported Friday November industrial output numbers that were the worst in four years alongside its worst retail sales growth data since 2003. This led to a sharp sell-off in U.S. stocks on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling more than 500 points at its session low.

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