NETHERLANDS - Dutch investment institutions returned a combined -0.4% during the second quarter, according to regulator De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

Meanwhile, their combined investments increased by 1.6% over the same period to almost €462bn, mainly due to a net deposit from institutional investors, which deposited €10.8bn, according to the supervisor.

Losses in the first and second quarters were caused in part by falling equity markets, the DNB said, adding that a disappointing economic outlook for the US and the depreciation of the dollar had contributed to poor returns in the second quarter.

The DNB quantified the loss on equity investments at 2.6% for the second quarter, compared with a 2.4% drop for the MSCI World index.

Dutch equity markets fell by 8.3%, compared with the AEX index's 7.1% loss.

Bonds largely broke even during the second quarter, according to the DNB, which added that the total return on bonds, including received interest, was 1% over the period.

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