U.S. junk bond funds report $122 mln outflow - AMG

NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. junk bond mutual funds reported $122 million in net outflows in the week ended Wednesday, following a $157 million inflow the prior week, AMG Data Services reported on Thursday.

The outflows came amid the worst ever losses on U.S. junk bonds, which are rated below investment grade and carry high yields to compensate for their risks.

Year to date, junk bonds have lost 29.8 percent, including 6.2 percent in November, according to Merrill Lynch data. A struggling U.S. economy, rising default risks and forced selling by hedge funds have all weighed on junk bonds this year, strategists said. (Reporting by Dena Aubin; Editing by James Dalgleish) (dena.aubin@thomsonreuters.com; +1-646-223-6325; Reuters Messaging: dena.aubin.reuters.com@reuters.net))