Capital inflows into the United States rose to US$87.4 billion in July as private investors bought up a record amount of securities including Treasury bonds and notes, government agency bonds and equities, the Treasury Department said Friday.

But foreign central banks bought far fewer in the way of U.S. securities almost across the board for the month, particularly Treasury bonds and notes.

In all, foreign capital inflows rose to $87.4 billion in July from a revised $80.9 billion in June.

Private foreign investors’ demand for long-term U.S. Treasurys rose sharply, reaching $24.9 billion in July.

Private purchases of U.S. securities rose to a record $91 billion, the highest since May 2003.

Foreign central banks bought $10.4 billion in U.S. assets in July, down from $23 billion in June.

Banks bought $3.6 billion in Treasury bonds and notes in July after buying $16.7 billion worth of the same instruments in June. They also purchased $1.4 billion in corporate bonds and $5.7 billion in government agency bonds.