Investment Watch

Purchases of aggressive-growth stock mutual funds have been surging this year, as confident investors take on more risk. But those higher-risk funds, which often focus on smaller stocks, still account for less than a sixth of the total $1.47 trillion in stock fund assets. Assets by category, as of April 30:

Growth and income*: 39.9%

Growth: 27.6%

International/Global: 16.2%

Aggressive growth: 15.9%

Precious metals: 0.4%

* Includes conservative equity-income category

Source: Investment Co. Institute