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A recent report by Axis AMC shed light on the burgeoning Indian mutual fund industry. Since March 2021, the MF industry has grown at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 23.65%, touching an AUM (asset under management) of Rs 67.25 lakh crore in October 2024. <keyword id="20300870" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Equity-Mutual-Funds" source="keywords">Equity mutual funds</keyword>, which garnered Rs 41,886.69 crore during the month, saw a 58.96% YoY growth. The biggest contributor to the equity segment was sectoral funds, which captured 29.3% of net equity sales in October 2024. In all, they brought in Rs 12,278.78 crore during October 2024. The AUM of <keyword id="20890471" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hybrid-Funds" source="keywords">hybrid funds</keyword> also stood at Rs 9.24 lakh crore during the month, registering an annual growth of 47.8% and inflows worth Rs 16,863.30 crore during October 2024. Amidst this, the arbitrage funds led in net sales, capturing 3.61% of their AUM with monthly inflows worth Rs 7,181.70 crores. There and more people are entering the Indian markets, as is evident in the growing SIP corpus (Systematic Investment Plans), which saw contributions worth Rs 25,323 crore in October 2024, a 54.7% year-over-year growth. In October 2024, about 63,69,919 new SIPs were registered, taking the number of SIP accounts to a record high of 10,12,34,212 The growth in equity investments was largely led by retail investors and HNIs (high-net-worth individuals). Since March 2021, the retail segment in mutual funds has seen a 31.2% CAGR, while banks and foreign investors have recorded a CAGR of 31.8% during the same period. Corporations were the biggest contributors to debt mutual funds. Notably, the AUM of debt funds grew 14.8% over the previous year to stand at Rs 10,65,037 crore as of October 2024. The category saw net sales worth Rs 47,699 crore last month. Also testimony to the growing interest of investors in mutual funds were the figures of <keyword id="23958398" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Passive-Mutual-Funds" source="keywords">passive mutual funds</keyword>, which recorded net sales worth Rs 8,025 crore during the month. Out of this, just index funds observed net sales of Rs 7,931 crore in the previous month. AUM from the top 30 Indian cities grew at 22.6% CAGR, whereas other cities grew at 27.8% CAGR since March 2021. FY25 also seemed to be the year where NFOs received an enthusiastic response from investors. So far, a total of 124 NFO schemes have managed to collect a total of over Rs 77,932 crore.

Mutual funds in spotlight: Industry grew at 23.65% CAGR since March 2021

Life Insurance Corporation of India (<keyword id="19903588" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LIC" source="keywords">LIC</keyword>) MD and CEO Siddhartha Mohanty has said that the corporation is looking to make fresh investments of around Rs 1.30 lakh crore in equities during the current financial year. During April-June FY25, the insurance behemoth made an investment of about Rs 38,000 crore in <keyword id="19907577" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shares" source="keywords">shares</keyword> as against Rs 23,300 crore in the same period a year ago. LIC earned a profit of Rs 15,500 crore from its investments in equity markets during the first quarter. The profit from its investment was higher by 13.5 % quarter-on-quarter. "We are surely looking at the markets and price movements...we are looking to invest a good amount at least whatever we had invested in last financial year...LIC invested around Rs 1.32 lakh crore in FY'24," he said. The <keyword id="19913381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="market" source="keywords">market</keyword> value of LIC's investment in stocks of various <keyword id="20027214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="companies" source="keywords">companies</keyword> stood at around Rs 15 lakh crore at the end of June, he said. LIC has exposure in 282 companies through investment in their shares as of June 30, 2024. The <keyword id="20340200" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="assets-under-management" source="keywords">Assets Under Management</keyword> (<keyword id="20019621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AUM" source="keywords">AUM</keyword>) increased to Rs 53,58,781 crore as of June-end as compared to Rs 46,11,067 crore at the end of the same quarter the previous year, registering an increase of 16.22 %. Total investment grew by Rs 7,30,662 crore, from Rs 42,44,852 crore in March 2023 to Rs 49,75,514 crore as of March 31, 2024. The total equity investment portfolio constitutes Rs 12,39,740 crore as against Rs 8,39,662 crore in 2022-23, whereas other investments constitute Rs 37,35,774 crore as against Rs 34,05,190 crore in 2022-23. For the June quarter 2024, LIC reported a 10% increase in net profit to Rs 10,461 crore as against Rs 9,544 crore in the year-ago period. Total income increased to Rs 2,10,910 crore during the latest June quarter as against Rs 1,88,749 crore in the year-ago period. Total premium income for the quarter increased 16 % to Rs 1,13,770 crore as compared to Rs 98,363 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

LIC to invest around Rs 1.30 lakh crore in stock market in FY25

The <keyword id="20340200" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="assets-under-management" source="keywords">Assets Under Management</keyword> (<keyword id="20019621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AUM" source="keywords">AUM</keyword>) of <keyword id="20300870" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-mutual-funds" source="keywords">equity mutual funds</keyword> have <keyword id="20641508" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surged" source="keywords">surged</keyword> by 5.37 per cent sequentially to Rs 25,12,845.59 crore in July 2024 from Rs 23,84,727.69 crore in June 2024, <keyword id="22838645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PL-Wealth-Management" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PL Wealth Management" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="PL Wealth Management">PL Wealth Management</keyword> said in a statement. The observation, which is based on 283 open-ended equity diversified funds, cited that 39 per cent of these funds have outperformed their respective benchmarks over the past month, ending July 31st, 2024, The cumulative total of funds that outperformed stood at 109 during the month ending July 2024 (one month). AUM measures the total market value of assets that a person or entity manages for clients or on behalf of investors. Under the <keyword id="21184260" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="large-cap-funds" source="keywords">large-cap funds</keyword>, about 58 per cent of <keyword id="19915334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="schemes" source="keywords">schemes</keyword> outperformed on S&amp;P BSE 100 - TRI benchmark, out of 31 schemes observed by <keyword id="19999821" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prabhudas-Lilladher" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Prabhudas Lilladher" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Prabhudas Lilladher">Prabhudas Lilladher</keyword>'s wealth management arm. About 24 per cent of schemes outperformed under the large and mid-cap funds, of which 29 were observed. Under the multi-cap funds about 40 per cent of schemes outperformed, whereas in the flexi-cap funds, the percentage of schemes outperforming was 33 per cent. Going further, about 38 per cent of schemes under the midcap outperformed. Interestingly, the data observed that not a single scheme in small-cap funds manages to outperform their respective benchmarks. According to the observations made by L Wealth Management, Value Contra Div Yield Funds was the best-performing category, where 78 per cent of the schemes outperformed the benchmark. It was followed by schemes of large-cap funds and multi-cap funds, which outperformed their respective benchmarks by 58 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, during July 2024. Large and mid-cap funds were the least performing fund category, with only 24 per cent of funds outperforming the benchmark, as shown in the analysis. <keyword id="22838646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PL-Capital-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PL Capital Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="PL Capital Group">PL Capital Group</keyword> specialises in research-driven advisory services in the Indian capital markets. The company's business is spread across 200 plus cities in India, catering to institutions, corporations, family offices, HNIs, and retail clients in India and globally.

Assets Under Management of equity mutual funds surged 5.4% sequentially in July: PL Wealth Management

Rising awareness of <keyword id="20041501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-planning" source="keywords">financial planning</keyword> has fueled a 256 % increase in retirement mutual fund <keyword id="20019621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AUM" source="keywords">AUM</keyword> in the last five years, according to a report. Factors such as rising <keyword id="21344413" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare-costs" source="keywords">healthcare costs</keyword>, increasing nuclear families, and higher <keyword id="20188311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-expectancy" source="keywords">life expectancy</keyword> are likely to fuel further growth in this sector, an ICRA Analytics report said. "Assets under Management (AUM) of these funds have grown by over 256 % in the last five years, reaching Rs 29,903 crore in July 2024, compared to Rs 8395 crore in July 2019," it said. ICRA said the growing awareness has led to a surge in the number of folios, which has increased by 17.44 % in the last five years to 29.36 lakh in July 2024, up from 25 lakh in July 2019. The number of schemes has also increased from 21 in 2019 to 29 as of July 2024. In July 2024, retirement funds received net inflows worth Rs 147.16 crores. The net inflows dipped in the month prior, standing at Rs 125.06 crore. Retirement funds have seen a consistent stream of inflows this year, with the January-March quarter recording inflows worth Rs 406.90 crore, which grew slightly to Rs 602.46 crore between April-June 2024. A retirement mutual fund is a specialized investment vehicle, also known as a solution oriented fund, which is designed to provide a secure and comfortable post-retirement life. The fund focuses more on equity, or growth opportunities early on in the tenure of the fund. But, in order to provide stability, the fund begins to rebalance and invests more in debt securities, as the individual ages and approaches retirement, where they will need a constant stream of income. These funds invest in both equity and debt, aiming to balance <keyword id="23041622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wealth-appreciation" source="keywords">wealth appreciation</keyword> and preservation offering a <keyword id="23041623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regular-income-stream" source="keywords">regular income stream</keyword> during retirement. The focus is largely on investing in steady instruments such as government bonds and more, in order to cushion any equity-related risks. Tpically, these funds have a lock-in period of five years or until retirement, which is generally between 58-60 years. However, experts note that a 5-year lock-in period could be discouraging for some investors. The average compound annualised returns on these funds stood at 26.21 %, 12.97 % and 14.09 % for a one-year, three-year and five-year period, the analysis found.

Assets under management of retirement mutual funds jumps 256% in 5 years

A recent report by <keyword id="23201114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centrum-Institutional-Research" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Centrum Institutional Research" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Centrum Institutional Research">Centrum Institutional Research</keyword> reveals a sharp rise in the number of <keyword id="21365016" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="wealthy-Indians" source="keywords">wealthy Indians</keyword> over the past five years. The data highlights that the number of individuals earning more than Rs 10 crore annually has surged by 63%, bringing the total count to approximately 31,800. Meanwhile, those earning over Rs 5 crore per annum now number 58,200, marking a significant 49% increase. <h2>Wealth growth across <keyword id="23201527" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tiers" source="keywords">income tiers</keyword></h2>The report not only tracks the increase in high earners but also highlights growth among those earning above Rs 50 lakh annually. Over the last five years, this group has expanded by 25%, with nearly 10 lakh individuals now in this income bracket. In terms of cumulative income, the report showcases rapid growth. The income of individuals earning over Rs 10 crore annually grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 121% between FY19 and FY24, reaching a staggering Rs 38 lakh crore. Those earning more than Rs 5 crore annually saw their collective income grow by 106% CAGR, amounting to Rs 40 lakh crore. Similarly, the income of those earning over Rs 50 lakh per annum increased by 64%, totaling Rs 49 lakh crore over the same period. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113328057" title="The illegal maneuvers the rich use to get richer" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The Centrum report also forecasts significant growth for India's <keyword id="20301791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="High-Net-Worth-Individuals" source="keywords">High Net Worth Individuals</keyword> (HNI) and <keyword id="21662893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ultra-High-Net-Worth-Individuals" source="keywords">Ultra High Net Worth Individuals</keyword> (UHNI). By 2028, their combined financial assets are expected to rise from USD 1.2 trillion in 2023 to USD 2.2 trillion, driven by an annual growth rate of 13-14% over the period from 2023 to 2028. The <keyword id="23201526" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mass-affluent-market" source="keywords">mass affluent market</keyword> is also projected to grow in early double digits during this time. <h2>A gap in professional <keyword id="20074812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wealth-management" source="keywords">wealth management</keyword></h2>While the wealth of India's affluent is growing rapidly, the report highlights a key difference between India and advanced economies: only 15% of financial wealth in India is professionally managed, compared to 75% in more developed markets. This gap suggests a significant opportunity for the professional wealth management sector as India’s wealthy population continues to grow. (With inputs from ANI)

Individuals earning over Rs 10 cr rise by 63% in India; financial assets of high net worth individuals to nearly double by 2028

June turned out to be a blockbuster month for thematic/sectoral <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword>, which managed to amass Rs 22,351.69 crore during the month, the highest amongst all equity mutual funds. Overall, equity mutual funds saw <keyword id="19967545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflows" source="keywords">inflows</keyword> worth Rs 40,537 crore, whereas debt mutual funds saw significant outflows of about Rs 1.07 lakh crore. Within this category, liquid and overnight funds saw maximum outflows. As Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India noted, since June is a quarter end month, debt-oriented schemes, as expected, witnessed a net outflow. Only funds with a duration profile of less than 1 year, like low duration and money market funds, saw inflows. "The net outflow across the board could also be on the back of investors shifting towards equity markets in expectation of better returns, as the equity markets continue to touch all time high levels after the election results were announced. Between May and June, the number of folios in the debt segment fell from 7,091,977 to 7,013,214, which is a drop by 78,763 folios. In May, the number of folios fell by 26,088 folios". "Moreover, uncertainty over the interest rate cut cycle has also been keeping investors in tenterhooks. With no clarity on the probable timing for the beginning of interest rate cut cycle, investors, for a time being, would have decided to adopt a wait and watch approach and stay away from categories which are exposed to interest rate risks such as Dynamic and Gilt", he continued. <h2>SIP figures touch all-time highs</h2> As <keyword id="22344564" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AMFI-data" source="keywords">AMFI data</keyword> further revealed, the number of new SIPs registered in June 2024 stood at a staggering 55,12,962. With this, the total number of SIP accounts in the country reached 8,98,66,962, inching up marginally from 8,75,89,485 in May 2024. SIP contributions also stood at an all-time high of ₹ 21,262.22 crores in June 2024 as against ₹ 20,904.37 crores in May 2024. The AUM of retail folios, which comprise of equity, hybrid and solution oriented was Rs 36,32,226 crores for June 2024. In <keyword id="22344565" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-schemes" source="keywords">hybrid schemes</keyword>, multi-asset allocation funds garnered Rs 3,453.12 crore in June, and Arbitrage funds saw inflows worth Rs 3,836.58 crore. The only hybrid scheme to see net outflows were conservative hybrid funds, which shed Rs 130.57 crore. June marked the 40th consecutive month of positive inflows for <keyword id="20210668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-funds" source="keywords">equity funds</keyword> since March 2021. As Feroze Azeez, Deputy CEO, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited highlights, "SIP numbers are hitting peaks every month, accumulating a stellar ₹21,260 crore. This strengthens the fact that Indian investors are resilient and are participating in the long-term growth of the market. The overall market behaviour supported by numbers suggests that investors are strategically positioning themselves with cautious yet optimistic approach for long-term growth". Last month, the Indian MF industry hit the Rs 60 trillion mark for the first time. Exactly 10 years ago, in 2014, the industry's AUM stood at Rs 10 lakh crore. Just 6 months ago, its AUM was Rs 51 lakh crore. Anand Vardarajan, Chief Business Officer - Key Clients &amp; Alternate Investments, Tata Asset Management underlines that is growth is a huge validation when it comes to expanding retail investor's base and investors themselves choosing mutual funds as a reliable investment vehicle for wealth creation. This is further underscored by the fact that the addition in six months is equal to what the industry has seen in ten years ago! <h2>Large and Mid Cap funds find investors </h2>After garnering consistently high inflows in the recent past, small cap funds amassed Rs 2,263.47 crore, a slightly sobering figure. Midcap funds saw inflows worth Rs 2,527.84 crore. On the other hand, inflows in large-cap funds dipped at significantly to stand at Rs 970.49 crore. Far more investments went towards the large and mid-cap funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 2,912.19 crore. Melvyn Santarita, Analyst – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India notes that these substantial net inflows can be attributed to the election results announced earlier in the month. Investors have remained optimistic and invested on policy continuity and anticipated reforms, expecting stability within the coalition government at the Centre. It was this optimism that propelled markets to new all-time highs. The multi-cap category witnessed the second highest net inflows in June 2024 among the equity-oriented categories amounting to INR 4,708.5 crores which was its 3rd highest net inflows ever over a monthly period. Categories which are biased towards the large-caps segment like flexicap (Rs 3,058 crores) and Value (Rs 2,027 crores) saw robust inflows during the month. "While markets have been in a prolonged bull run, there are concerns about overvaluations in certain areas, particularly in the mid and small-cap segments. Consequently, investors may be opting to invest in large-cap segments, where valuations are more favorable", Santarita highlighted. "However, they also continued their investments in mid and small caps, since the returns generated by mid and small cap segment over the last few years haven’t got unnoticed. Hence, the categories having substantial exposure in these two segments have witnessed strong net inflows. It is important to note that mid and small cap segments are highly volatile. While they can give exceptionally high return in up markets, they can fall equally hard in down markets. It’s important for investors to take exposure in these funds in line with their risk appetite", he cautioned. However, Hitesh Thakkar, Acting CEO, ITI Mutual Fund is confident of the immense wealth creation opportunities mutual funds will offer in the coming 5-7 years to retail investors. "Mutual fund is one of the preferred, transparent &amp; cost-effective investment products in India and is well accepted by retail investors. The trend is positive for Mutual fund industry future growth. There are chances that Industry will cross milestone of ₹100 lakh crores AUM by 2030”, he says. <h2><keyword id="19895579" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold" source="keywords">Gold</keyword> continues to glitter </h2>Net flows in Gold ETFs continued to be robust in June 2024, standing at Rs 726 crores. However, this was slightly below the net flows witnessed in May (Rs 827 crores). "Over the years, Gold has gained prominence as an effective diversifier, prompting many investors to include Gold ETFs in their portfolios. Gold prices also saw some slight correction in June which spurred buying from investors", underlines Santarita. However, the reason why inflows in gold ETFs have remained patchy as compared to equity is due to the significant gap in the returns offered. "Gold has done fairly well over the last year but dwarfs in comparison to how equities. Also, some investors could be choosing to opt for a risk-on approach to investing with the anticipation of a reversal in rate cycle going ahead", he continues.

Mutual fund AUM crosses the Rs 60 lakh crore mark, SIP nos. and AUM touch all-time highs

Equity <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword> saw inflows worth Rs 40,537 crore during the month. On the other hand, <keyword id="20671790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-funds" source="keywords">debt funds</keyword> saw outflows to the tune of Rs 1,07,357.62 crores. Out of this, liquid funds saw the maximum outflows of Rs 80,354.03 crores. This is generally attributable to investors withdrawing money to meet their advance tax obligations. Overnight funds also saw outflows to the tune of Rs 25,142.72 crores. <keyword id="20296225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thematic-funds" source="keywords">Thematic funds</keyword> saw massive inflows of Rs 22,351.69 crore, the highest in <keyword id="20210668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-funds" source="keywords">equity funds</keyword>, and were the investor's favorite during June 2024, as per <keyword id="22344564" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI-data" source="keywords">AMFI data</keyword>. About 50% of the inflows in this category came from 9 new NFOs (new fund offers) in this category, which amassed Rs 12,974 crore. In terms of inflows, multi-cap funds came a distant second, garnering Rs 4,708.57 crore last month. Amidst <keyword id="22344565" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-schemes" source="keywords">hybrid schemes</keyword>, multi-asset allocation funds, which garnered Rs 3,453.12 crore in June, and Arbitrage funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 3,836.58 crore remained investor favorites. The only hybrid scheme to see net outflows were conservative hybrid funds, which shed Rs 130.57 crore. <h2>Large-cap funds see moderate inflows</h2>Inflows in small cap funds tapered at Rs 2,263.47 crore, slightly below inflows seen by midcap funds, which stood at Rs 2,527.84 crore. However, inflows in large-cap funds sobered significantly to stand at Rs 970.49 crore. Investors clearly took a far greater liking to large and mid-cap funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 2,912.19 crore, which is reflective of investor's growing confidence in the Indian stock market, and their increasing desire to diversify their investments and take risks. As of June 30, 2024, the AUM (<keyword id="20257654" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="asset-under-management" source="keywords">asset under management</keyword>) of the Indian mutual fund industry stood at Rs 61.15 lakh crore. It took the MF industry 6 months to cross the Rs 60 lakh crore threshold, from the Rs 50-lakh crore mark. During the month, the number of new MF folios also stood at an all-time high of 19.04 crore. <h2>SIP Inflows at all-time high, <keyword id="20050894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-etfs" source="keywords">Gold ETFs</keyword> glitter hard</h2>SIP inflows for June surpassed the Rs 21,000-crore mark, standing at Rs 21,262 crore, as against Rs 20,904.37 crore in May 2024. Passive mutual funds (ETFs, Index funds) also registered a solid growth, with index funds gathering Rs 5,071.82 crores and other ETFs pulling in Rs 9,134.06 crores. Gold ETFs registered the highest month-on-month growth, gathering Rs 726.16 crore in June. Out of the 17 NFOs which were up for subscription last month, 9 belonged to the thematic fund category, while 2 were index funds. Cumulatively, these NFOs amassed Rs 15,227 crores.

AMFI Data: Debt funds see major outflows, thematic cap funds attract Rs 22,351.69 crores in June 2024

<keyword id="19895040" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="real-estate" source="keywords">Real estate</keyword> was India's asset of choice for investment in the first half of 2024, noted a recent FICCI-ANAROCK report. About 59% of the 7,615 respondents across 14 Indian cities expressed their desire to invest in real estate. Out of these, 67% of respondents wanted to buy a house to live in it, while the remaining 33% viewed it as an investment. Out of this 33%, the majority (57%) wanted to earn rental yields from the same, while another 20% planned to sell their property after its price has appreciated significantly. The remaining 23% viewed real estate as an asset for securing their future. Even for millennials, buying a house featured at the top of their priorities. 66% of millennials and 41% of generation X respondents highlighted that they intended to utilize their investment gains to buy a house in the future. What was also notable was the significant decline in demand for ready-to-move in units and a corresponding rise in demand for under-construction units. During the first half of 2024, for every 20 individuals who preferred a ready-to-move-in house, 25 respondents chose a new launch or under-construction property. This ratio was at 32:21 in the first half of 2021. Some of the reasons why over 53% of homebuyers are dissatisfied with the current available options when it comes to <keyword id="20254620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="affordable-housing" source="keywords">affordable housing</keyword> are location accessibility (92%), poor quality construction design (84%), and small unit sizes (68%). Even the supply in the affordable housing category across the top 7 Indian cities has considerably shrunk over the last 3 years, from 26% in 2021 to just 17% as of September 2024. However, this differed based on the city. While over 50% of respondents chose 3BHK apartments in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru, over 40% preferred a 2BHK in other metros like Kolkata. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune. However, that does not mean that there is little demand for luxury homes. 28% of respondents preferred buying a house between the range of Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore. This was a mere 18% prior to the pandemic. However, the most common budget range for houses remained between Rs 45-90 lakh, with 35% of respondents choosing the same. As far as under-construction properties are concerned, a staggering 98% of respondents prefer timely project completion, 93% choose improved construction quality, and 72% prefer a well-lit, ventilated home. The report further noted that Indians are increasingly inclined towards larger, more luxurious living spaces. 3BHKs and apartments remained the most preferred choice of residence and property type, with 51% and 58% of respondents opting for them, respectively. Residential plots were also seen gaining traction, particularly in southern India, with 30% of respondents in Chennai, 29% in Bengaluru, and 27% in Hyderabad preferring them. <keyword id="21483825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-loan-interest-rates" source="keywords">Home loan interest rates</keyword> also significantly influenced home buying decisions. If the rates are below 8.5%, it would have minimal impact on buying decisions for around 71% of respondents. However, interest rates exceeding 9% would significantly impact 87% of buyers. With the RBI currently deciding to hold off on slashing interest rates in October for the 10th consecutive time, home loan rates are likely to stay elevated in the future. Experts estimate that the RBI will start cutting interest rates early next year.

Real estate continues to dominate India's investment portfolios, shows FICCI report

The number of <keyword id="19933600" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="prostate-cancer" source="keywords">prostate cancer</keyword> cases is rising among men aged below 50 years in India, with a more aggressive form of the disease, experts have said, underscoring that it can be managed effectively if identified early as it often grows slowly. September is recognised as Prostate <keyword id="23363213" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-awareness-month" source="keywords">Cancer Awareness Month</keyword> for raising awareness about one of the most common cancers affecting men worldwide. Prostate cancer, which develops in the prostate gland, primarily affects older men, but it is on the rise in younger men in India, with a more aggressive form of the disease, according to the experts. The incidence of prostate cancer in the under-50 age group has increased significantly, they have pointed out. According to the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Health Organization" meta.hostid="266" meta.entityid="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</keyword>'s (WHO) figures, prostate cancer affected 37,948 Indian men -- accounting for roughly 3% of the 14 lakh new cancer cases registered in the country -- in 2022. Dr Ashish Gupta, a medical oncologist certified by the American board and the chief of the medical oncology department at the Unique Hospital Cancer Centre in Delhi, said, "<keyword id="20123436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="early-detection" source="keywords">Early detection</keyword> significantly increases the survival rates as prostate cancer is often slow-growing and can be managed effectively if identified in the initial stages." "The biggest issue in India is late diagnosis," he added. In the United States, 80% of prostate cancer patients are diagnosed early and 20% report it late, Gupta said, adding that the statistics are reversed in India. Through regular PSA tests and check-ups, men can take control of their health and reduce the chances of the disease advancing, he said. Although symptoms are often absent in the early stages, men should be aware of the potential warning signs, including difficulty in urinating, frequent urination (especially at night), blood in the urine or semen and pain in the hips, back or pelvis, he said. The experts have warned against a delay in diagnosis and treatment, given that it can prove to be fatal. Most often, the symptoms of prostate cancer are either ignored or neglected, leading to advanced stages of the disease. "We are observing a rise in prostate cancer cases in young adults, which was earlier associated with adults aged above 50 years. Cancer reports among younger males aged 35 to 44 residing in metropolitan regions have recently increased," Gupta said. Advances in medical technology, including robotic surgeries and precision radiation, have significantly improved the prognosis for prostate cancer patients. However, the fear of being diagnosed, combined with societal pressures on men to stay silent about health issues, prevents many from seeking timely medical advice. Modern treatment methods like immunotherapy, targeted therapy and a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy are proving to be an effective treatment option and giving a new lease of life to prostate cancer patients, Gupta said. Dr Tanvi Sood, a medical oncologist at the Paras Hospital in Gurugram, said, "Prostate cancer is increasing in young men around the globe. It is known to be more aggressive in nature and usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Increased screening may have contributed to increased diagnosis in younger men. However, there could also be a hereditary genetic syndrome causing prostate cancer in the men in a family." Timely diagnosis can help start the right treatment like surgery, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. It is very important to check for hereditary genetic mutations in all prostate cancer patients, especially young patients, Sood underlined. Gupta concluded that men with a family history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk, especially if someone's father, brother or uncle was diagnosed with the disease. Genetic factors play a role, so those with a family history should consider earlier and more frequent screenings, he added. Healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with regular physical activity, can support prostate health. Reducing red meat and fat intake, along with avoiding smoking, can also help lower the risk, Gupta said. By staying informed, opting for regular screenings and following healthy lifestyle choices, men can significantly reduce the risks associated with prostate cancer, he added.

Prostate cancer cases rising among men aged below 50 in India, note experts

Imagine this. You have a younger sibling you’re mighty envious of. And why not? Unlike you, they seem to enjoy all the freedom and money in the world. They party like there’s no tomorrow, and here you are, stuck in a boring, ultra-disciplined but responsible routine that feels completely devoid of any independence, and mostly, funds. But of late, things are changing. This sibling is in massive trouble and just cannot escape the parent’s wrath anymore. Long story short, the party is over, and it is time to go back home. The rising defaults on this sibling’s part have now begun pulling the entire house down, thereby attracting the regulator’s ire. <h2>The Wild West of microfinance and unsecured loans</h2>It's hard to ignore the issues with microfinance and unsecured loans in India. Many saw them as a small gamble and ignored the rising defaults much like the younger siblings’ tantrums, and now they find themselves in hot waters. The skyrocketing instances of non-payments aren't a micro-issue anymore and are threatening the stability of the entire banking system. In the quarter ended September 30, 2024, 5 of India’s 8 largest private sector <keyword id="19934118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banks" source="keywords">banks</keyword> reported a steep rise in their bad loan book, mostly thanks to microfinance loans. Some banks, in a bid to strengthen their fortress against these <keyword id="142154" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bad-loans" source="Orion">bad loans</keyword>, have significantly upped their provisions. For instance, <keyword id="46717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IndusInd-bank" source="Orion">IndusInd Bank</keyword> set aside Rs 525 crore during July and September 2024 to battle the menace of defaults on microfinance loans, which make up about 9% of its total loan book. See, banks rely heavily on their interest income, which they earn from advancing loans. Any loan where the borrower has not paid interest to the bank or defaulted for 90 days or more becomes bad, i.e., an <keyword id="79363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="npa" source="Orion">NPA</keyword>, or non-performing asset for the bank. And who likes things going bad? Simply put, there has been a steep rise in three areas, much to the dislike of banks and MFIs (micro-finance institutions). But hey, it's mostly their doing! <ol><li>GNPA ratio (gross net performing assets): The quantum of non-performing assets a bank has in proportion to its total assets.</li><li>Provision: The amount banks set aside to take care of such NPAs.</li><li>Slippage ratio: The rate at which good girls go bad, or the speed at which good loans turn into NPAs</li></ol>But how are these plaguing the Indian banking sector? And what does the road ahead look like? We decode it for you. <h2> Microfinance: A not-so-micro-menace</h2>Microfinance loans were initially brought forth for low-income households and individuals, i.e. for those who might not generally have access to traditional ways of credit, like bank loans and more. They don’t require collateral or an asset to be pledged in lieu of the loan, making it a tad bit easier for borrowers. As of June 2024, the amount of outstanding loans in the microfinance industry stood at a staggering Rs 4,20,256 crore. Of this, NBFC-MFIs accounted for 40% and banks made for 33% of these. In 2022, <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>, in a bid to inspire some competition in this space, did something radical-they did away with the ceiling on how much interest MFIs could charge their customers. Previously, MFIs could add up to 12% to their cost of acquiring funds to determine the final interest rate chargeable to the consumer. So, assuming that Bank A incurs a 5% cost to acquire funds for further loaning, A could charge up to 17% interest from the end consumer. So, interest rates were in the hands of MFIs, and boy, did they have a gala time with it. Instead of spurring some healthy competition, as RBI expected, MFIs and banks went rogue and all guns blazing, competing for the title of “Who will charge the highest interest?” Recently, RBI banned 4 microfinance institutions (MFIs), namely Asirvad Micro Finance Limited, Arohan Financial Services Limited, DMI Finance Private Limited, and Navi Finserv, from disbursing loans effective October 21, 2024. Why? Because they were charging 14% extra interest over their original cost of funds. To maintain their loan books (and pockets), banks and NBFCs resorted to shady practices like netting off loans, which RBI has now advised MFIs against. Here, lenders allow borrowers to settle a previous outstanding loan by issuing them a new loan! As crazy as it sounds, it helped banks to report less of their total assets as NPAs, since the new credit would cover pending installments of the borrower’s previous loan. Then there was the issue of borrowers overleveraging, i.e. taking multiple loans using different IDs from various lenders and then failing to honor any of them. The consequence? Banks and NBFCs end up with massive NPAs. Data from credit bureaus suggests that over the last quarter, there was a 17.2% rise in the number of borrowers who had 5 or more active loans at the same time. <h2>Growth &gt; Caution</h2>It's an age-old tale unfolding yet again in India’s banking sector- Icarus flew too close to the sun and eventually, fell to its death. Between April and June 2024, NBFCs microfinance portfolio jumped by 2.7%. If you see this in terms of loan sources, microfinance loans issued by banks grew by 11.2% in Q1FY25. But the same portfolio in NBFCs swelled by almost double-23.9%. While most of these loans had an average ticket size between Rs 30,000-50,000, there was a sharp spike in the number of loans that had a ticket size of Rs 80,000 or more. Data suggests that as of March 2024, more than 12% of all microfinance borrowers had over 4 or more active loans. In dating parlance, this is a classic case of borrowers going polyamorous, minus the honesty and transparency. Not the best of situations, you'd agree! <h2>Will banks and NBFCs stand up to this stress?</h2>If their results for Q2FY25 are to be believed, NBFCs are not handling the pressure all that well. Or even slightly well. Only a few banks like Bank of Baroda (BoB), ICICI, and Indian Bank were up for the battle, even witnessing a decline in their loan delinquencies. Some others, like IndusInd Bank, saw their stock dip by a massive 16.2% over the last 5 days. Its slippages in the previous quarter burgeoned from Rs 15.3 billion in Q1FY25 to Rs 17.9 billion in Q2. As a result, the bank pushed a staggeringly high amount of money to create an NPA cushion for itself. While its management has highlighted its preference for secured lending, that was hardly reflected in its actions during the quarter, where growth in unsecured personal loans remained exceptionally high at over 7% on a QoQ basis. Turns out, only 44% of customers in IndusInd Banks’ microfinance loan portfolio were exclusive to it. The rest 47% were, you guessed it right-polyamorous! 27% had borrowed from another lender as well, apart from IndusInd Bank, while 20% were those who had outstanding loans with two other lenders, apart from IndusInd Bank. IndusInd Bank’s credit card segment did not miss the NPA bus and accounted for 7-8% of its GNPAs. Canara Bank’s total slippages during the previous quarter jumped to Rs 11.1 billion, up by 24.7% QoQ, and making up for 3.6% of its total loans. As for Bandhan Bank, its <keyword id="763994" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gross-NPA" source="Orion">gross NPA</keyword> for Q2FY25 inched up on a QoQ basis, up from 4.23% in Q1, to 4.68% in the second quarter. <keyword id="62152" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IDFC-bank" source="Orion">IDFC Bank</keyword>’s heavy provisioning for its NPAs marred its profits significantly, causing its PAT (profit after tax) to dip by 73% on a YoY basis. Data from ICRA Analytics suggest that the AUM (asset under management) growth in microfinance loans and unsecured (personal and business) loans by the NBFCs will moderate to 10-12% and 19-21%, respectively, in FY2025 compared to 30% and 38%, in FY2024. Says A M Karthik, Senior Vice President &amp; Co-Group Head, Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA, “As bank funds constitute a larger share in the overall funding of NBFCs, a slower credit flow from banks to the NBFCs will compress their AUM growth. The NBFCs in unsecured and digital lending businesses shall face a higher squeeze in funding compared to others, and the unsecured lending space will continue to be a source of stress in the near term.” There has been uninhibited growth in unsecured loans, apart from just the microfinance segment. For instance, Axis Bank’s gross slippages jumped by Rs 4,443 crore, largely thanks to its unsecured business. The same is the case with Yes Bank, which saw 35–40% of its retail slippages emerging from the unsecured loan portfolio. Kotak Mahindra Bank was also quick to follow Yes Bank’s suit, with around 35%-40% of its slippages coming from credit cards. <h2>How is the road ahead?</h2>While RBI has just cracked its whip and served a warning at the moment, experts at Morgan Stanley believe that more changes (read regulatory lashes) are underway. Moreover, with both festive and wedding seasons underway in our country, unsecured lending might pick up momentum, much to the disdain of the calibrated approach banks have been taking towards it so far. But if the situation doesn't improve, RBI will not waste any time in becoming the typical tyrannical Bollywood headmaster who runs his dominion with an iron fist and takes things (and ceiling rates) into their own hands. However, that's a story for another day.

You Searched For "Asset Under Management India" and got 10 results

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Prostate cancer cases rising among men aged below 50 in India, note experts

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