The combined assets of the nation's mutual funds increased 3.4% to $7.294 trillion in March, according to the Investment Company Institute's latest survey of the mutual fund industry.

Assets of stock mutual funds rose by $213.54 billion in March. Net new cash flow was $35.60 billion during the month, compared with February's record $53.68 billion. Assets of hybrid funds increased by $11.12 billion in March despite a net outflow of $5.68 billion during the month. Assets of bond funds -- taxable and municipal -- declined by $3.73 billion in March. These funds had a combined outflow of $8.13 billion during the month.

Cash flow into stock funds was $35.60 billion in March from the record February pace of $53.68 billion. Most investment objectives had declines from February's levels.

Cash flow to aggressive growth funds decreased to $21.51 billion from $23.91 billion in February. Cash flow to sector funds also decreased to $11.18 billion from $14.73 in February. Outflows from growth and income funds were $12.41 billion, vs. $10.14 billion in February. Only growth funds had an increase in March -- to $12.29 billion from $11.1 billion in February.

Outflows from hybrid funds in March were $5.68 billion, nearly mirroring the $5.37 billion outflow in February. Similarly, the outflow from bond funds was $8.13 billion in March compared with an outflow of $7.87 billion in February. 

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