Smart Money Analysis: Top plays by hedge funds in Q2

(Reuters) - Many of the biggest hedge funds increased investments in U.S. financial institutions in the second quarter, betting on a rally in a sector that had been associated with the biggest risks over the past year.

The following tables show the biggest purchases and sales by 30 top hedge funds in the quarter, with percentage changes compared to the first quarter, according to data compiled by the Thomson Reuters Ownership Content Specialist Group.

TOP 10 INCREASES IN EXISTING POSITIONS

ISSUER SHARE CHANGE % CHANGE % OF FIRMS

(Million) (Shares) INCREASING

Bank Of America Corp (BAC.N) 283.4 1,215.73 8

E*TRADE Financial Corp (ETFC.O) 105.3 481.21 4

Sun Microsystems (JAVA.O) 81.8 2,245.89 5

Schering-Plough Corp SGP.N 75.1 298.98 8

Regions Fin Corp New (RF.N) 70.8 2,752.75 5

Food Motor Co (F.N) 48.1 876.98 7

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (ANGJ.J) 39.3 996.54 1

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB.O) 29.7 295.27 5

Wyeth WYE.N 27.7 41.57 11

JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) 25.8 58.76 10

TOP 10 DECREASES IN EXISTING POSITIONS