(Reuters) - Money flows into U.S. bond funds jumped in the week to Aug. 4, as investors rushed towards safety on fears over the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and slowing manufacturing activity. Data from Refinitiv Lipper showed U.S. bond funds attracted a net $6.66 billion, the most in four weeks. U.S. government and municipal debt funds received $3.4 billion, the most in 10 months. (Graphic: Fund flows into U.S. equities bonds and money market - tmsnrt.rs/3xuyluG) Data released during the week showed U.S. manufacturing growth slowed for the second straight month in July, while, U.S. private payrolls increased less than expected. Optimism over U.S. companies’ second-quarter earnings boosted stock prices during the week, however, lingering virus concerns capped the inflows. U.S. equity funds received just $470 million, a 94% drop compared with the previous week. (Graphic: Flows into U.S. equity sector funds - tmsnrt.rs/3AgMJc2) (Graphic: Fund flows into U.S. growth and value funds - tmsnrt.rs/3isnNbu) Overall, earnings at S&P 500 firms are estimated to have climbed about 90% in the second quarter compared with forecasts of 65.4% at the start of July, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Among sectors, tech funds received a net $1.3 billion, about 37% more compared with the previous week. Financial sector funds, however, witnessed outflows worth $673 million. (Graphic: Flows into U.S. bond funds - tmsnrt.rs/3yp275s) Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; editing by Vinay Dwivedi Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.