Subrata Panda, Abhishek Kumar

Stories by Subrata Panda, Abhishek Kumar

SIP flow into MF AUM clocks fresh highs in February

SIP flow into MF AUM clocks fresh highs in February

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2023

Over 85 per cent of SIP AUM, or Rs 5.8 trillion, is in equity schemes, compared to just Rs 6,100 crore in debt.

Arbitrage funds back in favour as market volatility boosts returns

Arbitrage funds back in favour as market volatility boosts returns

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2023

Arbitrage funds have recorded net inflows for three months straight, after steep outflows for half a year before that. The trend changed as mutual fund (MF) schemes improved amid a rise in equity market volatility. Investors redeemed over Rs 31,000 crore from arbitrage schemes between June and November before putting in Rs 3,000 crore in the last three months, shows data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

'SIP Inflows Remained Robust'

'SIP Inflows Remained Robust'

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

'Although mid- and small-cap funds have the potential for higher growth, they come with inherent higher volatility.'

HDFC twins' merger: RBI may take call on relaxations closer to date

HDFC twins' merger: RBI may take call on relaxations closer to date

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2023

The Reserve Bank of India is likely to take a call on the relaxations sought by HDFC Bank in relation to the merger, as the date of merger draws closer, sources said. The HDFC twins, which announced their decision to merge in April last year, received National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT's) approval recently - a key milestone to close the deal in due time. The management of both the entities had said that it will take 15-18 months for the merger.

SIP pie in mutual fund AUM clocks fresh highs in February

SIP pie in mutual fund AUM clocks fresh highs in February

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2023

The steady inflows from systematic investment plans (SIPs) into mutual funds (MFs), coupled with outflows from debt schemes, has propelled the share of SIPs in the total assets being managed by the industry to a new high of 17.1 per cent in February. SIPs are used predominantly by retail investors. Nearly seven of every 10 SIP accounts are in equity-oriented active MF schemes.

Fund managers expect the market to tread sideways in the next few months

Fund managers expect the market to tread sideways in the next few months

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

Mutual funds' average cash holdings in equity schemes topped 6 per cent in February as fund managers went slow on deployment of new inflows on expectations of better buying opportunities amid uncertainties in the market.

Mutual Funds' Rs 100 Trillion Opportunity

Mutual Funds' Rs 100 Trillion Opportunity

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

Despite strong AUM growth, MFs lag behind other popular investment avenues. MFs received only 6 per cent of total household savings in 2021-2022.

Life insurers' new biz premium down 17% in Feb, LIC collections shrink 32%

Life insurers' new biz premium down 17% in Feb, LIC collections shrink 32%

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2023

Life insurance companies reported a 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) drop in new business premium (NBP) in February as state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India's premiums contracted 32 per cent during this period on account of a drop in its group single premium segment. According to data released by the Life Insurance Council, the industry earned an NBP of Rs 22,847.65 crore in February - a drop of 17 per cent from the same period a year ago.

Will Bajaj Finserv MF be able to live up to expectations?

Will Bajaj Finserv MF be able to live up to expectations?

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2023

The mutual fund (MF) industry has seen a fair number of new entrants in the last 10 years but none of them have proved to be much of a challenge for the larger players. The list of top 20 fund houses, which manage over 90 per cent of the industry's total assets, continues to be dominated by players who have been in the business for more than a decade. Bajaj Finserv MF may change that, say experts.

US-based boutique investment company GQG Partners overweight on India

US-based boutique investment company GQG Partners overweight on India

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2023

US-based boutique investment company GQG Partners has shot into limelight with its Rs 15,446-crore Adani wager.

REVEALED: How RBI Operated During Covid

REVEALED: How RBI Operated During Covid

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

200 staffers, consisting of RBI officials and support teams, who are essential to perform critical functions, were isolated at a separate facility in a dedicated quarantined environment near all three RBI data centres.

Insurance companies yet to see fire sale of high-value life policies

Insurance companies yet to see fire sale of high-value life policies

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2023

Many life insurance companies are yet to see a sharp spike in the sale of high-value policies as was widely expected in the aftermath of the government's decision to tax income from insurance policies having an aggregate premium above Rs 5 lakh in a year.

Should you still bet on BAFs or move back to FDs?

Should you still bet on BAFs or move back to FDs?

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2023

Now that bank FD rates have gone up and most BAFs haven't delivered good returns, these investors are likely to be moving back to FDs, observed a senior MF distributor. The performance of BAFs in the past year has been mixed.

'Equities can deliver potentially superior returns'

'Equities can deliver potentially superior returns'

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2023

'Investors should ideally consider equity allocations from a medium-to-long term perspective.'

'Premium valuations a big challenge for markets'

'Premium valuations a big challenge for markets'

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2023

'The reason being we cannot let premiums go beyond a certain point.'

Credit card spends in Dec cross Rs 1 trillion for 10th month in a row

Credit card spends in Dec cross Rs 1 trillion for 10th month in a row

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2023

After a sequential fall in November, due to high base and waning of the festival season effect, credit card spends have picked up again in December, recording over Rs 1 trillion for the 10th consecutive month. Latest figures released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) show that credit card spends in December 2022 touched Rs 1.26 trillion, up 10.21 per cent compared to November. And, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, spends were up 34.31 per cent during this period.

'SIPs Will Be Best Way Forward'

'SIPs Will Be Best Way Forward'

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2023

'A fair bit should be allocated towards fixed income.'

Indians remitted nearly $2 bn in Nov under Reserve Bank's LRS scheme

Indians remitted nearly $2 bn in Nov under Reserve Bank's LRS scheme

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2023

Indians remitted close to $2 billion in November under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) liberalised remittance scheme (LRS), latest data released by the central bank showed. Outward remittances under the scheme jumped 29 per cent to $1.99 billion compared to $1.54 billion in the year-ago month. Sequentially, outward remittances under the scheme were up about 3.5 per cent.

Budget 2023 wish list: Insurers bat for hike in tax deduction limit

Budget 2023 wish list: Insurers bat for hike in tax deduction limit

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

Ahead of the Union Budget 2023, insurers are hoping that the Centre will act on their recommendations, which includes increasing the limit for tax deduction under 80D of the Income Tax Act. Also among them are issuance of long-term bonds, tax incentives for home insurance premiums, and a separate section to claim deduction for term-insurance premium, among others. These suggestions would help improve the penetration of insurance in the country.

Equity MFs added Rs 7,300 crore in Dec

Equity MFs added Rs 7,300 crore in Dec

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2023

Net investments in active equity mutual fund (MF) schemes rose to Rs 7,300 crore in December after declining to a 21-month low of Rs 2,260 crore in November, shows the latest data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi). The rebound in net inflows was driven by a surge in investments and moderation in redemptions. While the inflows into these schemes rose 5 per cent month-on-month (MoM) in December, the redemptions were 14 per cent lower compared to November.