The one-year returns for equity-oriented mutual fund (MFs) schemes have largely mirrored the gains made in the secondary market. However, schemes that invest in infrastructure (infra), small-cap, and public sector undertaking (PSU) banks have emerged standout performers, with gains in excess of 100 per cent in some cases. Of the total 484 equity schemes, 353 have managed to beat the Sensex, reveals the data provided by Value Research. Around 20 have delivered returns in excess of 90 per cent and six schemes have given returns of over 100 per cent in the past one year. The S&P BSE Sensex Total Return Index (TRI) has given returns of 51 per cent in the last one year, ended October 29.
State-run UTI Mutual fund has toppled private sector ICICI Prudential to be the country's second biggest fund house, while Anil Ambani Group's Reliance MF has retained its top position.
Life insurance sector in India grew by 41 per cent in 2005-06 due to better performance of country's largest life insurer, LIC, and private players like Bajaj Allianz and ICICI Prudential.
Omkeshwar Singh, Head, Rank MF, a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries.
Reliance Mutual Fund topped the AUM chart with its AUM in excess of Rs 660 billion, while ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund came second with an AUM of Rs 487 billion.
Do not, however, enter expecting quick returns.
While investing in a low priced micro-SIP may seem like a good idea, one must read the fine print before jumping in.
'If an investor is ready to stay put for the next five years, one can consider investing in mid- and small-cap funds, but through SIPs.'
Buoyancy in the equity market and the soft interest rate regime have prompted insurers like the LIC to focus on unit-linked products that provide life cover as well as tax benefits and capital appreciation to investors.
Omkeshwar Singh, Head, Rank MF, a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries.
Life Insurance Corporation and UTI Mutual Fund are in the fray for entering the lucrative pension business, which is slated to grow to Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) by 2010.
Multi-cap funds are best suited to exploit the present market scenario as they are free to invest across all market capitalisations and sectors, says Naveen Kukreja, CEO and co-founder, Paisabazaar.com.
The combined assets under management of the 32 fund houses in the country fell to Rs 5,49,114.82 crore (Rs 5,491.14 billion) in January, against Rs 5,49,942.02 crore (Rs 5,499.42 billion) at the end of December, 2007, latest data available on the website of Association of Mutual Funds in India show.
Strong performance by technology (tech) stocks in the current year has led to superior returns in information technology (IT) sector funds. On average, tech funds have given returns of 63.53 per cent in the past one year, the highest among all categories of funds, reveals the data from Value Research. Market participants say that Covid-19 has accelerated the growth of IT companies with rise in demand for digitisation.
India's 32 mutual fund houses saw an erosion of over Rs 32,200 crore (Rs 322 billion) in their total asset under management last month, with a weak stock market robbing off some shine from their over Rs 5 trillion portfolio.
Even after the split, UTI Mutual Fund continues to hold the largest market share of 14.47 per cent closely followed by ICICI Prudential, HDFC Standard Life and Templeton in the over Rs 1,00,000 crore (Rs 1,000 billion) industry.
An allocation to ESG theme funds can bring down the overall risk of an equity portfolio. Investors with long-term financial goals, such as retirement, should not ignore sustainable investing.
Balanced funds are suitable for investors who have low-risk appetite or are new to equities.Those with more than seven-year investment horizon should look at funds that have higher equity exposure.
'The number of first-time investors into MFs can grow four times more than the current rate if we are able to accept the bank KYCs.'
'Those satisfied with returns and not expecting further rally could be booking profits and also stopping SIPs.'
rediffGURU Ramalingam Kalirajan answers your personal finance queries.
Ulhas Joshi, Head -- Sales, Rank MF, a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries.
'Your decisions should not be driven by your view on the market, but by your objectives, risk appetite, and time horizon.'
In numerous instances, family members are unaware of an insurance policy's existence, let alone its details.
Regulator Irdai on Friday directed SBI Life Insurance Company to takeover the policy liabilities of around two lakh policies along with assets of Sahara India Life Insurance Co Ltd (SILIC) with immediate effect. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) in view of deteriorating financial health of the SILIC. "The Authority has identified SBI Life Insurance Company Limited (SBI Life), which is one of the largest life insurers in the country with satisfactory financials, as the acquirer insurer of the life insurance business of SlLIC.
Raising a child as a single mother in India can be challenging, especially when it comes to managing finances.
The first quarter earnings season will dictate the trend in the equity markets in this holiday-shortened week amid absence of major macroeconomic drivers, say analysts. Besides, lacklustre global markets may increase volatility in the market, they added. Equity markets would remain closed on Wednesday for Bakri-Id.
Opinions vary, but fund managers remain bullish.
While near-term performance is difficult to predict after a huge run-up, fund managers believe the PSU theme's prospects remain sound over the medium to long term.
In a growth market, these funds should not form more than 10-15% of your portfolio. Invest with a horizon of at least 5 years
Omkeshwar Singh, Head, Rank MF, a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries.
Contrary to expectations, the new business premium (NBP) of life insurance companies dropped 12.62 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in March 2023 due to an over 30 per cent drop in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India's premiums, albeit on a high base. Data released by the Life Insurance Council shows the industry racked up NBP of Rs 52,081 crore in March 2023, compared with Rs 59,608.83 crore in the year-ago period. NBP is the premium acquired from new policies in a year. It is the sum of the first-year premium and single premium, reflecting the total premium received from new businesses.
