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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

Foreign investors have withdrawn nearly Rs 20,000 crore from Indian stock markets in just five trading days (November 4–8), continuing a trend of large-scale selling that began last month. Experts say investors are now moving their money to China, largely due to the high valuations presently prevailing in Indian markets. In early November, FPIs have offloaded as much as Rs 19,994 crore in Indian markets. The month prior, i.e., October, was one of the worst months in terms of foreign outflows, with FPIs making a net withdrawal of Rs 94,017 crore. Before this, Indian markets faced such a situation during the pandemic, when FPIs withdrew Rs 61,973 crore from equities in March 2020. <h2>Why Are Investors Leaving? </h2>According to Himanshu Srivastava of Morningstar Investment Research India, two main factors are driving this exodus. First is China's renewed appeal due to lower stock valuations and new economic stimulus measures. In a bid to nudge the domestic economy and bail state governments, China recently approved a 10-trillion yuan (US $1.4 trillion) package. Per reports, approximately 60% of this stimulus focuses on allowing local governments to refinance the mountain of debt on them. Srivastava explains foreign investors are also flocking to US dollar and Treasury yields, which have appreciated significantly in the recent past, leading FPIs to anticipate a stronger US economy going ahead. Moreover, high valuations in Indian markets are discouraging foreign investors from putting more money in the economy. As a result, over the past week, the selling pressure eroded Rs 74,563 crore in market value for Reliance Industries, while Bharti Airtel and ICICI Bank lost Rs 26,274 crore and Rs 22,254 crore, respectively. The combined market valuation of six of the top 10 most-valued firms dipped by Rs 1,55,721.12 crore last week. <h2> Silver linings</h2>Despite the ongoing outflux of funds since last month, November also saw unprecedented applications of about 40–50 new FPI registrations, which are eyeing to enter the Indian market. This was due to markets SEBIs recent relaxation to NRIs, permitting them to participate up to 100% and announcing measures for ease of entry and operations in India. On the other hand, FPIs invested Rs 599 crore in the debt general limit and Rs 2,896 crore in the debt voluntary retention route (VRR) during the period under review. So far this year, FPIs have invested Rs 1.06 lakh crore in the debt market. <li class="whitespace-normal break-words"></li>Going ahead, investors will be looking for certain macroeconomic cues, which include corporate earnings reports, India's inflation (CPI) and industrial production (IIP) data on November 12, the US inflation report on November 13, and wholesale price index (WPI) data on November 14.

FPIs withdraw nearly Rs 20,000 crore from equities in the last 5 trading sessions, make a beeline for China and US

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have been rapidly exiting Indian markets, and this high-speed exodus does not look like it will stop anytime soon. In October 2024, FIIs withdrew Rs 1,14,445.89 crores from Indian markets. Yesterday, FIIs withdrew $770.67 million from the markets, with equity outflows of $440.86 million and debt outflows standing at $327.44 million across various categories. Per NSDL data, hybrid outflows amounted to $2.31 million. While this may sound dissuading at first, a recent SBI report underlined that FIIs still hold a massive $ 18.241 billion in Indian markets. So far, FY25 has seen FII inflows worth $ 8.924 billion. However, the situation may quickly turn alarming as well, given that FII holdings in Indian equities have already come down to a 12-year low. Says Anirudh Garg, Partner and Fund Manager at Invasset PMS, "The current valuation of Indian stocks, trading at around 24 times expected earnings, appears high compared to Chinese stocks, which are at approximately 10 times. Economic concerns, including weak corporate earnings and declining consumer demand, further exacerbate this situation. Additionally, renewed fears of inflation and potential monetary tightening by central banks have led FIIs to withdraw from the Indian market." In the meantime, DIIs (domestic institutional investors) are stepping in big time. During October 2024, DIIs infused Rs 1,07,254.68 crore in Indian markets. In November so far, DIIs have been keeping the fund momentum going, infusing Rs 12,265.74 crore in India, while FIIs have offloaded Rs 16,445.49 crore this month. But despite this strong uptick, SBI's recent report suggests that consumer confidence in India remains below 100, signaling muted positivity and optimism in the economy. While household consumption is gradually recovering, it grew at 4% last year, much below the 7% levels recorded pre-pandemic. <h2>FII share in <keyword id="20868945" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE-listed-companies" source="keywords">NSE-listed companies</keyword> takes a dip, DII stake rise </h2>FIIs share in NSE-listed companies stood at 15.98% in October, with assets under their custody in the equity segment coming to Rs 71.08 lakh crore last month. In September, this stood at Rs 77.96 crore. Experts suggest that this is likely to continue for some time to come. Mutual funds, on the other hand, saw their share in NSE-listed companies hit a record high of 9.58%, as opposed to their 9.32% stake in September 2024. FIIs turned net sellers in the debt segment as well in October, dumping $771 million in Indian markets. This comes after 2 consecutive months of healthy inflows in this segment in August and September 2024, where the figures stood at $2,806 million and $2,295 million, respectively.

FII stake in Indian equities dips to a 12-year low

New Delhi: Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords">Sebi</keyword> has proposed a minimum ticket size or <keyword id="21732014" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment-threshold" source="keywords">investment threshold</keyword> of Rs 1 crore for the RBI-regulated originators and unregulated entities engaged in securitisation activities. The proposal also introduced limitations on the number of investors in <keyword id="22496291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="private-placements" source="keywords">private placements</keyword>, allowing <keyword id="23778966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securitized-debt-instruments" source="keywords">securitized debt instruments</keyword> (SDIs) issued privately to be offered to a maximum of 200 investors. If this limit is exceeded, the issuance must be classified as a public issue. Public offers should remain open for a minimum of three days and a maximum of 10 days, with advertisement requirements aligned with Sebi's regulations for non-convertible securities. Additionally, the regulator has suggested that all securitized debt instruments should be issued and transferred exclusively in demat form. SDIs are financial products created by pooling together various types of debt -- such as loans, mortgages, or receivables -- and then selling them as securities to investors. This process, known as securitisation, allows the originator (such as a bank) to convert illiquid assets into liquid ones, providing an alternative source of funding. Investors in these instruments receive returns based on the performance of the underlying debt pool, and the risk is spread across multiple assets, offering potentially attractive returns. The current framework is based on Sebi's 2008 regulations, with updates from the Reserve Bank of India's (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) 2021 directions on securitising standard assets. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is now considering updates to the regulatory framework for securitized debt instruments and sought public comments till November 16 on the proposals. Regarding risk management, Sebi has proposed that originators retain a minimum risk retention of 10 per cent of the securitised pool or 5 per cent for receivables with a maturity of up to 24 months. A minimum holding period requirement will also be specified by Sebi for underlying receivables to ensure that originators maintain an interest in the underlying assets, the regulator said in a consultation paper. The regulator further suggested including an optional clean-up call for originators, allowing them to repurchase up to 10 per cent of the original value of the assets. This call is optional and intended to help manage the pool's longevity without mandating additional commitments from the originator. Liquidity facilities, essential to handle timing mismatches in cash flows, should either be provided directly by the originator or through an appointed third party. The updated definition of "debt/receivables" limits permissible underlying assets to listed debt securities, accepted trade receivables, rental incomes, and equipment leases while disallowing single-asset securitisation. The proposal establishes minimum track record requirements for both originators and obligors. Originators should have a minimum of three years of operating experience, while trade receivables specifically require at least two cycles of successful, default-free payments.

Sebi proposes Rs 1 crore minimum investment, mandatory demat form for securitized debt instruments

The ongoing issue involving Supreme Infrastructure India Limited (<keyword id="23294280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SIIL" source="keywords">SIIL</keyword>) and the State Bank of India (<keyword id="19898108" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SBI" source="keywords">SBI</keyword>) has become a focal point in India’s financial and political landscape. It concerns SIIL’s default on significant loans and SBI’s decision to convert this debt into equity, raising concerns about the precedent it may set for future debt resolutions in India. <h2>SIIL's financial troubles</h2>SIIL, a construction and infrastructure company, was once engaged in large-scale projects such as roads and bridges across India. Over the years, however, the company faced severe financial troubles due to project delays and insufficient revenues. As SIIL’s cash flow problems worsened, it struggled to repay its loans, leading to the company’s default. The State Bank of India (SBI), being SIIL’s largest lender, found itself at the centre of this financial turmoil, as SIIL declared bankruptcy. In response, SBI decided to take an unusual step to recover its dues. <h2>SBI's debt-to-equity conversion decision</h2>In a surprising move, SBI converted its outstanding debt into equity in SIIL. This means that instead of pursuing traditional recovery methods or selling off assets, SBI has now become an equity stakeholder in SIIL, shifting from being its primary lender to part-owner. The controversial decision also involved other lenders who agreed to take a 93.45% “haircut” on the debt, which indicates that they are recovering only a fraction of the original loans extended to SIIL. <h2>Criticism and concerns</h2>The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from political circles. <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> leader Jairam Ramesh, through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), criticised SBI’s approach and raised several concerns. He highlighted that SBI’s decision to become an equity stakeholder in a company that declared bankruptcy could set a "dangerous precedent in India’s <keyword id="20575563" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corporate-debt" source="keywords">corporate debt</keyword> landscape". "This arrangement creates a dangerous precedent in India's corporate debt landscape — it encourages other defaulting companies to seek similar deals, where they can retain control and value even after significant defaults," Ramesh noted. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112987756" title="Congress alleges SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch of office for profit" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>His concerns extend to how this move might affect the <keyword id="20158086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Insolvency-and-Bankruptcy-Code" source="keywords">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</keyword> (IBC) and India’s overall framework for handling distressed companies. By converting <keyword id="22921090" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-to-equity" source="keywords">debt to equity</keyword>, SBI could be seen as aligning itself with the interests of the defaulting borrower (SIIL) rather than prioritising the recovery of public funds, which are at stake in cases involving <keyword id="19959986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-sector-banks" source="keywords">public sector banks</keyword> like SBI. “The SBI appears to be aligning itself with the interests of the defaulting borrower (SIIL) rather than prioritising the recovery of public funds,” Ramesh further argued. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) needs to step in and examine SBI's decision-making process in this matter." Given the unusual nature of this debt restructuring and the potential risks it introduces, Congress is urging the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to step in and examine SBI’s decision-making process. Ramesh emphasised the need for regulatory scrutiny to ensure that public sector banks maintain discipline in their approach to resolving bad loans. Congress' position is that SBI’s move could create a moral hazard within India’s <keyword id="19964544" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-sector" source="keywords">banking sector</keyword>, encouraging more companies to default on their loans with the hope of retaining control through similar debt-to-equity swaps. Ramesh pointed out that the entire situation raises questions about how distressed assets should be managed by public sector banks, and whether SBI’s actions are truly in the best interests of the public. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113620397" title="SEBI report reveals the ugly truth of F&amp;amp;O trading in India – 93% of retail traders incurred losses" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"There is a pressing need to ensure that public sector banks maintain strict discipline in their approach to debt resolution and avoid creating moral hazards in the financial system." <h2>Broader implications</h2>This situation shines a light on broader challenges in India’s banking and insolvency frameworks. When public sector banks like SBI take significant financial losses (haircuts) and switch from creditors to shareholders, it risks undermining confidence in the banking sector’s ability to handle bad loans effectively. Moreover, it raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) if companies that default can avoid paying back substantial portions of their debt and still retain operational control. (With inputs from PTI)

Congress criticises SBI's decision to convert SIIL debt into equity, urges RBI intervention

Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords">SEBI</keyword> has proposed expanding the <keyword id="22367248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-finance-framework" source="keywords">sustainable finance framework</keyword> in the <keyword id="20922662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securities-market" source="keywords">securities market</keyword> by introducing a new category of financial instruments. This category will include <keyword id="20518791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-Bonds" source="keywords">social bonds</keyword>, <keyword id="22623575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainable-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainable bonds</keyword>, and <keyword id="22623576" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainability-linked-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainability-linked bonds</keyword>, in addition to the current <keyword id="22819966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-debt-securities" source="keywords">green debt securities</keyword>. It aims to provide issuers with flexibility in raising funds for projects that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. In a consultation paper released on Friday, SEBI proposed that issuers, in addition to existing green debt securities, should be allowed to raise funds through issuance of social bonds, sustainable bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds. These bonds will collectively be known as ESG Debt Securities. This will enable issuers to raise money for more sustainable projects, assisting in closing the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. SEBI said it received representations from market participants including the Confederation of Indian Industry to expand the scope of the regulatory framework pertaining to sustainable finance to include social bonds, in addition to existing green debt securities as a mode of raising sustainable finance, in line with global practices. As per the consultation paper, SEBI said, it "proposed to introduce the concept of sustainable securitised debt instruments for the purpose of providing originators of the underlying credit facilities which are within such international or domestic frameworks for sustainable finance, and thereby provide investors as well an opportunity to participate in the sustainable securitised debt instruments". The consultation paper also addressed the initial and continuous disclosures for sustainable securitised debt instruments that would be based on international frameworks. Initial disclosures could be made in the offer document for the securities, while continuous disclosures might be included in annual reports or other mandated formats. The markets watchdog also suggested that issuers of ESG debt securities and sustainable securitised debt instruments appoint an independent external reviewer or certifier, to facilitate transparency and credibility. The review could take various forms including, second-party opinions, verification, certification, or scoring/ rating. The <keyword id="19901204" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Securities-and-Exchange-Board-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Securities and Exchange Board of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Securities and Exchange Board of India">Securities and Exchange Board of India</keyword> (SEBI) has invited comments and suggestions from the public on the consultation paper by September 6.

SEBI proposes expansion of sustainable financial framework in securities market

In recent years, <keyword id="19902194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Ambani" source="keywords">Anil Ambani</keyword>'s <keyword id="20479923" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Group" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Reliance Group">Reliance Group</keyword> has seen marquee firms being auctioned in insolvency proceedings and piling debt-fold businesses. But the group has, in the week gone by, made announcements that investors believe may mark its transformation. In three days -- from September 18 to September 20 -- the group announced it has turned into nearly zero debt and is implementing long-term fundraising plans that are said to solidify its financial position. <keyword id="20144587" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Infrastructure" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Infrastructure" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Reliance Infrastructure">Reliance Infrastructure</keyword>'s board approved <keyword id="20431799" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fund-raising" source="keywords">fund raising</keyword> of up to Rs 6,000 crore via preferential issue and QIP, while <keyword id="20024191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Power" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Power" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Reliance Power">Reliance Power</keyword> board is meeting on September 23 to consider and approve the fundraise via multiple routes. The speed at which Anil Ambani moved to clear the debt of his companies, and simultaneously announce and execute the fund raising plans for future expansion of his companies, has surprised the investors. Shares of both firms surged on stock markets. The announcement to invest Rs 1,100 crore by the promoters group in Anil Ambani's flagship company, Reliance Infrastructure, has further boosted the confidence of investors in the group's revival plans and its long-term growth story, investors said. Anil Ambani's twin strategy of <keyword id="21440133" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-reduction" source="keywords">debt reduction</keyword>, coupled with fresh capital raising, has set the stage for a long-term transformation of the Reliance Group, they feel. Reliance Infrastructure's <keyword id="20000950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="market-capitalisation" source="keywords">market capitalisation</keyword> by the end of this week surged nearly 50%, rising from Rs 8,500 crore to Rs 12,500 crore. Similarly, Reliance Power's market capitalisation increased over 25%, moving from Rs 11,500 crore to Rs 14,600 crore. Reliance Infra announced a significant reduction in standalone external debt, lowering it from Rs 3,831 crore to just Rs 475 crore. This was achieved by clearing outstanding dues to prominent lenders such as Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Edelweiss ARC, ICICI Bank, and Union Bank, according to company filings. The move signals a robust financial recovery and enhances Reliance Infra's financial flexibility. Also, Reliance Infra board approved a preferential issue to raise Rs 3,014 crore, increasing the stake of Risee Infinity Pvt Ltd, a promoter group entity, along with other investors such as Florintree Innovation LLP and Fortune Financial &amp; Equities Services Pvt Ltd. The board also approved seeking shareholder authorization to raise an additional Rs 3,000 crore via a qualified institutional placement. This will provide further capital to strengthen the balance sheet and invest in new growth opportunities. With these fund infusions, Reliance Infra's net worth is set to rise from over Rs 9,000 crore to more than Rs 12,000 crore, according to the filings. The company is now well-positioned to invest in high-growth sectors, investors said.

Anil Ambani's Reliance Group starts transformation journey, achieves near zero-debt

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

Despite the recent increase in <keyword id="87554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-liabilities" source="Orion">financial liabilities</keyword>, <keyword id="1912236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-debt" source="Orion">household debt</keyword> in India is much lower than in other emerging market economies (EME) and, therefore, the risk of defaults due to greater exposure of higher mortgage payments and floating rate interest is limited in India, according to the Reserve Bank of India's (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>) <keyword id="131660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-stability" source="Orion">financial stability</keyword> report. "The current level of household debt in India does not pose systemic concern," the report observes. <keyword id="20033520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gross-household-financial-savings" source="Orion">Gross household financial savings</keyword>, which had surged to 15.4 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 (pandemic peak year), supported by large precautionary savings, fell to 11.1 per cent in 2021-22 and further to 10.9 per cent in 2022-23, reverting to its pre-pandemic trend (viz., an average of 11.0 per cent during 2011- 12 to 2019-20), the report states. In terms of absolute levels, gross household financial savings expanded by 13.9 per cent year-on-year during 2022-23. Household net financial savings (HNFS), however, fell sharply to 5.1 per cent of GDP in 2022-23 from 11.5 per cent in 2020-21, well below its long-run annual average of 7.0-7.5 per cent. The fall in HNFS was driven by a rapid rise in financial liabilities from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2021-22 to 5.8 per cent in 2022-23 even as financial assets moderated only marginally to 10.9 per cent in 2022-23 from 11.1 per cent in 2021-22, according to the RBI report. The increase in financial liabilities was driven by a steep rise in borrowings from financial institutions, with a large part in physical assets creation (mortgages and vehicles). Thus, the overall savings of households may still hold steady with a compositional shift in favour of physical savings. This would directly add to gross capital formation, supporting an upturn in the private investment cycle and, eventually, the prospects for growth, the report points out. Moreover, recent data show that HNFS rose to 7.0 per cent of GDP in Q4:2022-23 from 4.0 per cent of GDP in the previous quarter, indicating normalisation of HNFS towards the pre-pandemic long-term trend. Household debt moderated to 37.6 per cent of GDP in March 2023 from its peak level of 39.2 per cent in March 2021, the report added.

Household debt in India does not pose systemic concern: RBI

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

<ul><li><keyword id="122724" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-securities" source="Orion">Government securities</keyword> are considered among the safest investment options due to the sovereign guarantee attached to them. </li><li>Most brokers allow trading of existing <keyword id="6371629" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="g-secs" source="Orion">G-secs</keyword> on the secondary market through their platforms.</li><li>Investing in G-sec-focused mutual funds allows a diversified portfolio within Government securities and low-ticket investments. </li></ul>Government securities, commonly known as G-secs, are <keyword id="166233" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-instruments" source="Orion">debt instruments</keyword> issued by the Government of India to raise capital. These securities serve as a way for the government to borrow money from the public or institutions. G-secs come with fixed <keyword id="6371181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="Orion">interest rates</keyword> and predetermined maturity dates. They are considered among the safest investment options due to the sovereign guarantee attached to them, ensuring repayment of the principal amount and interest upon maturity. The credit risk on G-secs is thus minimal. Government bonds also boast high liquidity and can be traded easily in the secondary market. This flexibility provides an opportunity to earn improved returns on the bonds and allows for exiting at any desired time before the maturity date as well. How G-secs work Investing in g-secs involves purchasing these bonds at face value, and the interest, also known as the coupon, is paid periodically, typically semi-annually or annually, until the maturity date. The interest rates on g-secs are influenced by various factors, including market demand, inflation, and the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>). Consequently, the prices of G-secs fluctuate inversely with the prevailing interest rates in the market. When interest rates rise, the value of existing G-secs falls, and vice versa. These securities are traded in the primary and secondary markets. In the primary market, they are directly issued by the government through auctions, while in the secondary market, they are bought and sold among investors. How to invest G-secs are available in various tenures, ranging from short-term (Treasury bills) to long-term (Government bonds). The Retail Direct Scheme by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rolled out in 2021 enables individual investors to directly invest in government securities without requiring intermediaries such as brokers or mutual funds. The NSE goBID platform allows retail investors to participate in auctions for new G-sec issuances through your broker. It offers a non-competitive bidding process, meaning you specify your desired amount, and if your bid is accepted, you'll get allotted securities at the cut-off price. Most brokers allow trading of existing G-secs on the secondary market through their platforms. This offers flexibility to choose specific securities and exit positions when needed. Steps to invest `Here are the steps to invest in G-secs. <ol><li>Log in to your brokerage account </li><li>Navigate to the bids section: Locate and click on the "Bids" tab or section within the platform.</li><li>Select government securities: Once in the Bids section, find and select the option for "Govt. securities."</li><li>Initiate the bid: Look for the option to "Place bid" and click on it.</li><li>Enter bid Amount: Input the specific amount you wish to bid for the government securities.</li><li>Finalise the bid: After entering the amount, confirm the bid by clicking on the "Place bid" button.</li></ol>Investing in G-secs through the mutual fund route One can also take the mutual funds route to invest in G-secs. “Investing in G-sec focused mutual funds allows a diversified portfolio within Government securities and low ticket investments,” says Marzban Irani, chief investment officer, fixed income, LIC Mutual Fund. This can be suitable for passive investors or those seeking exposure without actively managing individual bonds. “It is always easy for investors to buy subscription or redemption requests in a mutual fund, compared to looking out to buy or sell securities in the fixed income market. Also, one may buy and hold but in between prices can fluctuate. Many people may not understand the drivers of those price fluctuations,” says Pankaj Pathak, fund manager, fixed income, Quantum AMC. Interest rate risks G-secs do carry one particular risk, that of interest rate fluctuations in the broader market. When rates rise, existing G-Secs with lower rates lose value compared to newer securities offering higher rates. Conversely, falling rates increase demand for older G-Secs, potentially raising their value. Longer-term G-Secs are more prone to rate change risks than short-term ones. Investors holding G-Secs until maturity aren't affected by price fluctuations but can lose potential earnings if rates rise after purchase. “A sudden increase in interest rate can impact return. So one is advised to invest into G Secs only for long-term goals,” says Abhishek Kumar, founder and chief<a href="https://business.outlookindia.com/invest/investment"> </a>investment advisor at SahajMoney, a financial planning firm. Is this a good time to invest? Government securities (G-Secs) typically attract conservative investors seeking a steady income from their investments. Moreover, investors often include G-Secs in their portfolio's debt allocation, which comprises diverse assets like equities, fixed-income instruments, and safe havens such as gold. At present, we are at the peak of the interest rate hike cycle. Developed economies like the US are expecting rate cuts going ahead in 2024. On the domestic front, the core inflation seems to be under control. “The interest rates are holding steady and might even start going down from the second half of next year,” says Kumar. So, going forward, retail investors can expect to improve their returns on G Sec investments. Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We recommend readers consult certified, qualified and registered advisors for professional and personalised financial advice.

A case for investing in Government securities

Investors continued to push significant money into sectoral, or thematic funds, with the category seeing inflows worth Rs 18,117.18 crores during August 2024. The inflows in this category remained largely flat last month, changing negligibly from Rs 18,386.35 crores in July 2024. During August, 5 new thematic mutual fund NFOs were launched, which raised a total of Rs 10,093.57 crore. <h2>42nd consecutive month of positive inflows</h2>This takes the total tally of existing sectoral fund schemes to 179. The next category with most schemes offered (42) is <keyword id="103549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ELSS" source="Orion">ELSS</keyword> (equity-linked savings scheme). Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India cautioned that investors should be cautious while selecting funds specially from the sector/thematic category. Such funds offer a very high-risk high return investment proposition and may not fit in the portfolio of every investor. "Either investors should themselves understand the dynamics of the underlying sector or theme to take a prudent investment decision, or they should have a strong advice available to them, who can help them take the right decision", he advised. Inflows in small-cap funds tapered significantly, and are now largely in line with funds garnered by large-cap and mid-cap funds. In August, large-cap funds saw inflows worth Rs 2,636.86 crore, while large and mid cap funds amassed Rs 3,293.74 crore. Small-cap funds raked in Rs 3,209.33 crore during the month. "With large cap segment faring relatively better from valuation point of view, investors have shifted their attention towards this category again. Besides, large cap funds add stability to the portfolio during the times of market volatility, and this could be another reason for investors to invest in these funds, given heightened volatility observed in the markets in the recent times. Additionally, with the valuation high in the mid and small cap segments, some shift towards large caps is not surprising", continued Srivastava. Also, investors showed far more proclivity for <keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mutual-Funds" source="Orion">mutual funds</keyword> spread over various market caps, as opposed to a single one. This is evident in the amount garnered by flexi-cap funds, which amassed Rs 3,513.16 crore. All in all, the equity segment saw total inflows of Rs 34,302.82 crores in August, making it the 42nd consecutive month of net inflows in this segment. Even the number of folios in equity jumped 3.16%, up from Rs 13.8 crore in July to Rs 14.3 crore in August. In hybrid funds, balanced advantage funds saw inflows worth Rs 3,215.06 crore, while multi-asset allocation funds received Rs 2,826.89 crore. <h2>Debt inflows take a dip</h2>As for debt categories, they saw inflows worth Rs 45,169.36 crore during the month, higher than their equity counterparts. However, this was significantly lower than the inflows it registered in July, which stood at Rs 1,19,587.60 crore. The biggest contributors to this quantum were <keyword id="428654" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="liquid-funds" source="Orion">liquid funds</keyword> and overnight funds, which received Rs 13,594.87 crore, and Rs 15,105.93 crore respectively. And despite various PSU stocks having a good run on the bourses, banking and PSU funds saw outflows worth Rs 1,549.99 crores, the highest in debt segment. Nehal Meshram, Senior Analyst, Research, Morningstar Investment Research India highlighted that overnight funds, liquid funds and money market funds accounted out 86% of the overall debt inflow last month. "This trend reflects a preference for low-risk and highly liquid investment options. Investors also showed a preference for categories with shorter maturity profiles, such as short term, corporate bond and ultra short duration funds, for temporary parking of funds. Medium duration funds, which had consistently seen outflows, reported marginal inflows in August for the first time in 15 months", she explained. During the month, about 63,93,602 new SIPs were registered.

You Searched For "India debt" and got 12 results

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

Ira Alok Puranik

FPIs withdraw nearly Rs 20,000 crore from equities in the last 5 trading sessions, make a beeline for China and US

BI India Bureau

FII stake in Indian equities dips to a 12-year low

Ira Alok Puranik

Sebi proposes Rs 1 crore minimum investment, mandatory demat form for securitized debt instruments

PTI

Congress criticises SBI's decision to convert SIIL debt into equity, urges RBI intervention

BI India Bureau

SEBI proposes expansion of sustainable financial framework in securities market

PTI

Anil Ambani's Reliance Group starts transformation journey, achieves near zero-debt

PTI

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

Ira Alok Puranik

Household debt in India does not pose systemic concern: RBI

IANS

SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

BI India Bureau

A case for investing in Government securities

Anagh Pal

Sectoral funds rake in Rs 18,117.18 crore during the month, debt schemes see more inflows than equities, notes AMFI data for August

Ira Alok Puranik

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