The Budget has relaxed a few safe harbour rules that aim to make it easier for fund managers overseeing offshore India-focused funds to relocate to the country.
India is often viewed as an aggressive tax jurisdiction by domestic and overseas taxpayers, and making the charter as part of the Act may help restore confidence among taxpayers.
The regulator has asked portfolio managers not to leverage the portfolio of clients for investment in derivatives and not indulge in speculative transactions that are not accompanied by actual delivery, except for derivatives trades. This is done with the intention of reducing volatility in the market and curbing undue risks.
Last October's circular meant that downstream investment by such funds by way of subscription or acquisition of shares would have been considered "indirect foreign investment" if their investment manager or sponsor is owned or controlled by a non-resident. The finance ministry has now said that mutual funds that invest more than 50 per cent in equity shall be omitted from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
'Trading is about psychology; 75% of it is about keeping your emotions in check.'
The asset manager is yet to resolve the impasse surrounding the payment of pension to its erstwhile employees who had opted for voluntary retirement in 2003.
The financial services sector, including NBFCs and housing finance companies (HFCs), have historically been the largest borrowers from MFs.
Market watchers believe that the change in guidelines fly in the face of some of the recent initiatives taken by the government, such as easing norms for foreign portfolio investors.
This may mean easier access, simplified KYC and documentation requirements, and fewer investment restrictions for a majority of FPIs, especially broad-based funds and pooled vehicles that were earlier part of Category-II.
In the year to date, 61 PSUs have lost an average of 22 per cent, with five companies losing more than half their share value. The BSE PSU index is down 10.6 per cent.
Ninety-nine companies, which also include some unlisted ones, have more than Rs 100 crore each of minimum alternate tax credit on their books, cumulatively adding up to Rs 75,000 crore. By utilising MAT credit, many companies will be able to bring down their effective tax cost.
The number of equity schemes rose to 562 from 519 two years ago. Equity NFOs, in fact, have mopped up more than Rs 16,000 crore since 2018 - 2.7 times the Rs 5,948 crore collected in the preceding three calendar years.
The capital markets regulator exonerated former employees Subramanian Anand, Ravi Apte, and Umesh Jain, with respect to charges levelled against them.
The RBI governor's assurance should give investors enough confidence to start believing in the NBFC sector again, say bankers.
Increase in surcharge will adversely impact fund managers planning to shift to India. As a matter of fact several fund professionals based in India could also relocate to other jurisdictions, resulting in a brain drain.
In the past few months, 45 companies have signalled their intent to raise money through the institutional placement route.
'Equities are likely to be range-bound with a downward bias for the remaining part of the year.'
Fund managers's compensation is largely tied to the assets they manage and scheme performance.
Nearly three-fourths of the debt money, as of April 30, 2019, was invested in securities with duration of less than three years.
'The variables to watch include the monsoon, resolution of NBFC liquidity issues, GST collections, and NPA resolution.'
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