Abhishek Kumar, Khushboo Tiwari

Stories by Abhishek Kumar, Khushboo Tiwari

Passive investments surge in 2024: Index fund folios double, ETFs up 40%

Passive investments surge in 2024: Index fund folios double, ETFs up 40%

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2024

Index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have added a record number of investment accounts in 2024, buoyed by the sectoral and thematic investing euphoria that has spilled into the passive space.

Derivatives volumes crash 37% in Dec as Sebi tightens trading norms

Derivatives volumes crash 37% in Dec as Sebi tightens trading norms

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2024

The derivatives trading volume has seen a 37 per cent month-on-month decline in December following a slew of measures undertaken by the market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to curb the frenzy in the derivatives segment. The average daily turnover (ADTV) for the derivatives segment (notional turnover for options segment) so far this month is at Rs 280 trillion - the lowest since June 2023-compared to Rs 442 trillion in November.

Active largecap funds set to outperform for 2nd consecutive year

Active largecap funds set to outperform for 2nd consecutive year

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2024

The majority of active largecap funds are set to outperform for the second year in a row in 2024, thanks to the strong performance of their midcap and smallcap allocations.

Small Town India Falls In Love With MFs

Small Town India Falls In Love With MFs

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2024

More than 50 per cent of SIP accounts come from semi-urban and rural areas.

Top MF Performers Across Categories

Top MF Performers Across Categories

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2024

Data from Value Research analysed on five-year, three-year and one-year performances of active equity schemes to pick the best performers in popular scheme categories.

Mutual funds in 2025: Innovation and quality investing take centre stage

Mutual funds in 2025: Innovation and quality investing take centre stage

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2024

The volume of new fund offerings (NFOs) in 2025 will fluctuate based on market conditions. However, innovation is expected to continue unabated. With an increasing number of fund houses aiming to establish a presence in the 'factor' investing space and changes in fund-of-fund taxation providing more opportunities, several industry-first offerings are anticipated.

Mutual funds increase exposure to banking, IT stocks amid outperformance

Mutual funds increase exposure to banking, IT stocks amid outperformance

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2024

The performance of banking and information technology (IT) stocks has had a significant impact on the composition of diversified mutual fund (MF) portfolios. Over the past two months, these sectors have become increasingly dominant, now constituting nearly 30 per cent of the total allocation in many diversified MF portfolios.

A fifth of AIF investments questionable in terms of intent: Sebi official

A fifth of AIF investments questionable in terms of intent: Sebi official

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2024

Around Rs 1 trillion, or a fifth of the investments made by alternative investment funds (AIFs) are questionable in terms of the intent behind the investments and are under the scanner for circumvention of regulations, said Ananth Narayan, whole-time member of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). AIFs are pooled investment vehicles that invest in a variety of assets including real estate, startups, unlisted companies, and derivative strategies in the listed space.

Amfi stock reclassification: Largecap cutoff likely to touch Rs 1 trn

Amfi stock reclassification: Largecap cutoff likely to touch Rs 1 trn

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2024

The market capitalisation (mcap) cutoff to qualify for mutual funds' (MFs') largecap universe is likely to go up for the fifth consecutive time to touch the Rs 1 trillion mark for the first time. A fresh list of largecap, midcap, and smallcap stocks is set to be released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) in the first week of January.

Market regulator Sebi extends MF expense structure to new asset class

Market regulator Sebi extends MF expense structure to new asset class

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2024

Specialised investment fund (SIF), a new asset class, will have the same expense structure as that of mutual funds (MFs), according to rules notified by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). SIF, which was first proposed by Sebi in July 2024, aims to fill the gap between MFs and portfolio management services (PMS), and it looks at informed investors, who are willing to take riskier bets.

'All Algo Orders Shall Be Tagged'

'All Algo Orders Shall Be Tagged'

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2024

'There has been a spurt of algo platforms, and algo developers, which are neither empaneled nor regulated, but are still active in the ecosystem.'

Nifty Next 50 intensifies competition in the largecap space

Nifty Next 50 intensifies competition in the largecap space

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2024

Passive funds tracking the National Stock Exchange Nifty Next 50 Index have seen their assets under management (AUM) more than double in the past year. The index's growing popularity can be attributed to its robust 50 per cent return over the same period. Currently, the AUM of funds tracking the Nifty Next 50 index stands at nearly Rs 30,000 crore.

MFs seek relaxation in rules framed to prevent mkt abuse

MFs seek relaxation in rules framed to prevent mkt abuse

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2024

The mutual fund (MF) industry is set to approach the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for relaxation in the recently implemented rules designed to prevent market abuse. According to MF executives, the new rules that came into effect in November for large schemes have created operational challenges for fund managers, particularly when executing large transactions or participating in block deals.

Why SME players are a worried lot today

Why SME players are a worried lot today

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2024

Of the total 199 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) listed this year so far, 22 had an issue size of less than Rs 10 crore, which the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will no longer allow in the listed ecosystem after its recent consultation paper. The market regulator on Tuesday proposed an overhaul of the rules governing the initial public offerings (IPOs) of SMEs and corporate governance norms for listed SMEs, following concerns over 'systemic risk' seen in the ecosystem with instances of fund diversion and price manipulation.

AIFs gain currency as fundraise tops Rs 5 trn

AIFs gain currency as fundraise tops Rs 5 trn

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2024

Alternative investment funds (AIFs) have crossed Rs 5 trillion in terms of funds raised, while the investment commitments have surpassed Rs 12 trillion for the first time as of September, according to data released by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Could Adani Settle With US Accusers?

Could Adani Settle With US Accusers?

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2024

Though a settlement will provide respite from a long legal battle, legal experts say it may create a perception of guilt.

MFs step up: SIPs climb ticket ladder, one rung at a time

MFs step up: SIPs climb ticket ladder, one rung at a time

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2024

The average ticket size for a systematic investment plan (SIP) is edging up, even as the pace of new account openings remains strong. SIP ticket sizes had been shrinking in recent years, as mutual fund (MF) penetration grew. However, the average ticket size has started to climb again after a steep drop in the post-pandemic period, as the industry has doubled its investor base in the past four years.

MFs cast their lines for record Oct catch

MFs cast their lines for record Oct catch

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2024

Mutual funds (MFs) reinforced their record monthly inflows in October with an investment of Rs 87,000 crore (up to October 29), softening the downside pressure on domestic markets. Their prior record for monthly inflows was Rs 48,139 crore in May. This unprecedented monthly buying partially countered record monthly sales by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) of Rs 1.1 trillion last month.

Equity NFO pipeline remains strong despite mkt weakness

Equity NFO pipeline remains strong despite mkt weakness

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2024

The equity market's recent downturn appears unlikely to slow the brisk pace of mutual fund (MF) scheme launches, at least in the coming weeks. Last month, fund houses introduced 21 new equity schemes, with another five launches already lined up for November. The number of filing with markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), suggests this momentum will continue with asset management companies (AMCs) seeking approval for 21 more equity schemes in October.

50 bps cut in interest rate likely by March 2025: Axis Mutual Fund

50 bps cut in interest rate likely by March 2025: Axis Mutual Fund

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2024

'Investors can consider staying invested in long duration products as there is a possibility of rate cuts in the near term.' Positive macros - lower inflation, high forex reserves and favourable demand-supply dynamics for government bonds - make a strong case for rate cuts from December, says Devang Shah, head of fixed income, Axis Mutual Fund. In an interview with Abhishek Kumar in Mumbai, Shah says this view may not hold true if commodity prices go up sharply.