Dec 17 (Reuters) - Global bond funds posted huge outflows in the week ended Dec. 15, as investors anticipated that major central banks would shift the direction of their monetary policy during key policy meetings this week, pressured by soaring inflation levels. Investors offloaded global bond funds of $6.91 billion, marking their biggest weekly net selling since April 8, 2020, Refinitiv Lipper data showed. In the lead up to the Federal Reserve"s policy meeting that concluded on Wednesday, U.S. consumer price index accelerated 6.8% in the 12 months through November, marking the biggest year-on-year rise since June 1982. read more The Fed, at its policy meeting this week, doubled the pace of tapering its monthly bond-buying program and flagged three interest rate hikes next year. The European Central Bank also trimmed the pace of its bond purchases, while Britain lifted its interest rates. read more U.S. bond funds witnessed net selling of $7.48 billion, although investors purchased European and Asian bond funds of $1.45 billion and $0.19 billion respectively. Global government bond funds saw outflows of $809 million after seven successive weeks of inflows, although inflation protected funds drew $1.32 billion in net buying, a 39% increase over the previous week. Investors sold global equity funds of $13.14 billion, compared with net purchases of $3.43 billion in the previous week. Among equity sector funds, technology funds secured inflows of $1.91 billion compared with a outflow in the previous week. Healthcare and materials funds received over $400 million each, however, utilities faced net selling of $588 million. Global money market funds also saw outflows, worth a net $20.46 billion, after eight straight weeks of inflows. Within commodity funds, precious metal funds saw net selling of $402 million, posting a second straight week of outflow. Investors also sold energy funds of $96 million after two straight weeks of net buying. An analysis of 24,070 emerging market funds showed bond funds witnessed outflows of $4.49 billion, the largest since March 25, 2020, while investors sold equity funds of $1.51 billion.