HEDGE FLOW-Hedge funds creep back into tech stocks after weeks of selling

By Nell Mackenzie

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Hedge funds last week bought the biggest tech stocks as well as those considered vulnerable to advances in artificial intelligence, said a note to clients from JPMorgan JPM.N seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The world's most valuable technology stocks have suffered sharp declines this year after years of outsized gains, as investors question whether heavy spending on AI will generate sufficient returns to justify the lofty valuations.

"While positioning remains very stretched between Semis and Software (globally, in the U.S., and in Europe), the rotation seemed to slow or reverse a bit," said the note to clients.

Software stocks saw some buying after being sold down by historic amounts the week before, the bank said, without putting a timeframe on the comparison.

Hedge fund leverage increased from the week ending February 14 and is nearing its highest level in a year, said a separate note from Goldman Sachs seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

It said net sales orders in global equities had hit their highest level since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a barrage of import tariffs last April.

Financial stocks were the sector with the highest net sales, while energy, health care and staples saw the greatest net buying, said Goldman Sachs. It did not break down the financial stocks into sub-categories.