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The deluge of funds in sectoral, or <keyword id="20296225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thematic-Funds" source="keywords">thematic funds</keyword> continued unabashed in September, with investors pouring in Rs 13,254.63 crore via 183 schemes into this category, as <keyword id="20090036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AMFI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AMFI">AMFI</keyword> data showed. In August too, investors had put in Rs 18,117.18 crore via 179 schemes here. The trend has been going strong since July, 2024, which saw <keyword id="20444306" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sectoral-Funds" source="keywords">sectoral funds</keyword> garner Rs 18,386.35 crores via 174 schemes. In August, 5 new thematic funds were launched on the momentum, which raised Rs 10,202 crore. Last month saw the launch of 4 new sectoral schemes, which garnered around Rs 8,000 crore. However, inflows into <keyword id="21366551" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Equity-Schemes" source="keywords">equity schemes</keyword> fell by 10% in September to Rs 34,419 crore, as compared to Rs 38,239 crore in August 2024. Between April and June 2024, equity <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mutual-Funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword> had seen a total inflow of Rs 94,222.27 crore, out of which inflows in sectoral funds (Rs 46,731.17 crore) alone were a whopping 50%. While the quantum of inflow in equities, and sectoral funds certainly seems to have tapered down a bit, it continues to remain significantly strong, indicating heavy <keyword id="20354507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Investor-Interest" source="keywords">investor interest</keyword> in this largely risky segment. Over the last year, AMCs have been pumping out more and more NFOs in this space in a bid to get a bigger chunk of investor's money, and also regulations restrict them from launching new schemes under other categories. However, with the ongoing geopolitical concerns in Middle East, and rising prices of crude oil, the equity markets are set for volatile, uncertain times ahead. However. thematic funds have had a good run so far this year, with YTD (yield to date) of 28.69%, and returns worth 44.71% over the past year. Says Deepak Ramaraju, Senior Fund Manager, Shriram AMC, "On the prima facie, it looks like investors are concerned about the valuation, increasing geo-political uncertainty and moderation in earnings and hence, we have seen redemption from funds. But we will have to wait for how the global events play out – like the Chinese stimulus, the Fed Decision and the RBI’s MPC policy stance in the months to come". As such, you should think twice and carefully assess the risks involved before dipping your hands in the gush of sectoral funds right now. While they may be all the rage, identifying the right sector or theme at the right time is a job best done by professionals. <h2>Don't ignore the risks involved</h2>Siddharth Alok, AVP Investments, Multi Ark Wealth-Epsilon Money explains that sectoral funds come with high risk, since they are more vulnerable to sector-specific downturns. This might not suit the risk palate of many investors. "All markets have cycles, where some sectors naturally outperform while some underperform in the short to medium term. For instance, industrial and consumer discretionary sectors may perform well in a growing economy, while defensive sectors like utilities or healthcare may perform better during downturns". "To make the most of your investments in sectoral funds, it is essential to time your entry and exit in these sectors, which is a difficult job for a regular investor", he continued. In order to maximise your returns in thematic funds, either investors i.e. you should understand the dynamics of the underlying sector or theme, or you should have qualified and experienced advisors who can help you take the right decision with regards to such investments. As a matter of fact, you should approach any new funds only after comparing them with similar existing offerings and ensuring their aptness in your portfolio. As an astute investor, you should understand that such funds offer a very high-risk high return investment proposition and may not fit in the portfolio of every investor. Investing in every <keyword id="20498936" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NFO" source="keywords">NFO</keyword> (New Fund Offering) without assessing the sector's viability and future growth, merely on the back of its current hype is unadvisable.

The newest fad in mutual fund multiverse: Sectoral Funds. Here's why you should not over-invest in them

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

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.

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

<ul><li>AMFI data indicates a heightened investor preference for sectoral/thematic funds </li><li>During market upswings, it's typical for investors to lean towards thematic investing, aiming to outperform the market. </li><li>Banking, capital goods and infrastructure funds should continue to do well in 2024. </li></ul>Between October 2022 and October 2023, the assets under management (AUM) of sectoral/thematic funds surged by 30% to reach ₹2.18 lakh crore. The allure of attractive returns stands out as just one of the contributing factors driving the increased interest in sectoral/thematic funds. AMFI data indicates a heightened investor preference for sectoral/thematic funds targeting specific sectors, like <keyword id="44530" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="psu" source="Orion">PSU</keyword> companies, over diversified funds encompassing various sectors. During market upswings, it's typical for investors to lean towards thematic investing, aiming to outperform the market by focusing on specific themes or sectors. “Sectoral or <keyword id="917586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thematic-funds" source="Orion">thematic funds</keyword> come into focus when the markets are doing well. Now that we have had three years of really good performance by the markets, people want to go down the risk curve,” says Mihir Vora, CFO, Trust <keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="Orion">Mutual Funds</keyword>. In 2023, under thematic funds, the PSU sector has done well giving returns of almost 54%. Under <keyword id="6022989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sectoral" source="Orion">sectoral</keyword> funds, infrastructure funds have done well. Giving returns of about 40%. Technology funds have done well, giving returns of over 27%. However, the banking sector has underperformed, it has given returns of around 18% but lower than that of PSU or infrastructure funds. Consumption funds have given returns of around 24%. “Markets go through periods of rotation where different sectors and themes come to the fore from time to time. For instance in 2023, PSU, manufacturing and infrastructure were some of the better performing themes, while consumption, FMCG and financials relatively lagged,” says Kaustubh Belapurkar, director, manager research, Morningstar Investment Research India (formerly known as Morningstar Investment Adviser India). What can we expect in 2024 Indian thematic funds enjoyed a stellar 2023, fueled by government tailwinds propelling infrastructure and PSU sector and themes. However, as we step into 2024, things might not be the same. Global economic headwinds may cast a shadow over international themes, demanding cautious navigation. Nonetheless, selective investors, particularly those focused on government-backed initiatives and long-term growth trends, could still unearth alpha-generating opportunities. “Banking is expected to do well. Capital goods and infrastructure should continue to do well. Plus growth as a style is likely to outperform value unlike this year,” says Vora. What investors should keep in mind “Investors are best served by investing in diversified equity funds, where managers will take graded overweight or underweight exposures in sectors depending on their outlook,” says Belapurkar. Thematic funds are focussed on a few themes or sectors or style. “So it is a little more risky than diversified funds. Basically it should be used by investors who are themselves taking the call of sectors of themes. It is an active call that the investor has to make himself. The investor needs to decide which sector he is bullish on and take a call,” says Vora. He adds that investors should realise that when the markets have already done well for a long period of time they need to be very conscious that when they are adding thematic funds to their portfolio, they are adding risks at a higher level. So one needs to be very choosy of what one is getting into and really understand the risks.

Explained: Will thematic funds continue to be attractive in 2024?

<ul><li>The new fund offering (<keyword id="35472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nfo" source="Orion">NFO</keyword>) opens on December 1, 2023. </li><li>The fund is designed to strategically invest in <keyword id="62614" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sectors" source="Orion">sectors</keyword> benefiting from India's <keyword id="6386662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic" source="Orion">economic</keyword> shifts. </li><li>The fund will adopt a bottom-up strategy, selecting stocks across market caps. </li></ul>Axis Mutual Fund has launched the <keyword id="19658385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Axis-India" source="Orion">Axis India</keyword> <keyword id="5382838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manufacturing-fund" source="Orion">Manufacturing Fund</keyword>, an open- scheme that mirrors India's manufacturing landscape, and is benchmarked against the Nifty India Manufacturing TRI. The new fund offer (NFO) opens on December 1st, 2023, and seeks to enable investors to tap into the potential growth of India’s manufacturing sector, which is anticipated to expand in the years ahead. Investors can participate in the NFO until December 15, 2023. Why manufacturing as a theme? India is heading toward an exciting future, embracing modern technologies and focusing on sustainable growth. Government actions, along with labour and tax changes, position India as a competitive global manufacturing centre. India relies heavily on consumption, making it less prone to global economic shifts. The surge in growth is fueled by enhanced economic confidence driving product demand and efficient use of production capabilities. Hence, manufacturing as a theme holds a lot of promise. Axis India manufacturing fund's strategic focus The fund is designed to strategically invest in sectors benefiting from India's economic shifts, aiming for a diverse portfolio reflecting the depth of India's manufacturing strength. Encompassing sectors like capital goods, consumer durables, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, the fund will offer a comprehensive investment avenue within India's manufacturing landscape. Investment strategy across economic segments The fund targets three companies across three sectors of the Indian economy: Investments (Capex cycle): Companies boosting production through investments in equipment and research. Consumption: Industries witnessing increased demand due to rising incomes and a trend towards premium products. Net exports: The fund will be focused on companies benefitting from India's global supply chain integration. Investment approach and focus The fund will adopt a bottom-up strategy, selecting stocks across market caps. Emphasising active sector allocation and a 'Quality' investing style, it also aims to look at underrepresented segments in Indian listed markets. Says B Gop Kumar, MD and CEO, Axis Asset Management Compnany (AMC), "This thematic fund, is designed to capitalise on India’s growing momentum, focusing on sectors that stand to redefine India’s industrial contours.” Currently there are only a few manufacturing funds in India with a one and three year track record. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#ff0000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Funds </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#ff0000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1-year return (%) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#ff0000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3-year return (%) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Aditya Birla Sun Life Manufacturing Equity Fund - Direct Plan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">18.33 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">16.99 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ICICI Prudential Manufacturing Fund - Direct Plan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">32.20 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">31.86 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kotak Manufacture in India Fund - Direct Plan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">21.62 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-- </td></tr></tbody></table> Source: Value Research “Investors should not take positions into these thematic funds for more than 10% of their portfolio allocation. That way if it doesn’t work out, they won’t face they won’t face a large drawdown on their portfolio,” says Abhishek Kumar, founder and chief<a href="https://business.outlookindia.com/invest/investment"> </a>investment advisor at SahajMoney, a financial planning firm. This is because thematic funds like manufacturing funds can carry higher risks due to their focused investment in specific sectors or trends. Their success hinges on the performance of those particular themes, making them more vulnerable to market fluctuations and industry-specific challenges.

New fund alert: 'Axis India Manufacturing Fund'

<ul><li>In the last six months, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/12-equity-oriented-thematic-mfs-launched-in-the-last-6-months/slidelist/98900160.cms">12 new funds have been launched </a>in thematic schemes category with multinational companies (MNC) fund, <keyword id="347032" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dividend-yield-fund" source="Orion">dividend yield fund</keyword> being and <keyword id="12557861" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-cycle-fund" source="Orion">business cycle fund</keyword> catching investor attention.</li><li>Such funds are popular as investors are looking for value creation across the board, beyond benchmark indices.</li><li>Such funds carry high risk and may not meet investor expectations of better returns in the long run, say experts.</li></ul><keyword id="917586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thematic-funds" source="Orion">Thematic funds</keyword> have created a buzz among investors given inflows into sectoral/thematic funds jumped more than three times from ₹903 crore in January, 2023 to ₹3,856 crore in February, 2023. In the last six months, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/12-equity-oriented-thematic-mfs-launched-in-the-last-6-months/slidelist/98900160.cms">12 new funds have been launched </a>in thematic schemes category with multinational companies (MNC) fund, dividend yield fund being and business cycle fund catching investors attention. Such funds are popular because investors are looking for value creation options, across the board beyond benchmark indices. The fact that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/back-to-square-one-nifty-circles-back-to-levels-last-seen-in-september-2021-markets-likely-to-end-2023-in-the-red/articleshow/98898424.cms">Indian markets have bled deeply </a>while underperforming global markets let investors look for sectors that are relevant in the current market situation. However, such funds carry high risk and may not meet investors expectations of better returns in the long run. “In recent months, performance of large and mid cap funds has not been optimal which can explain shifting investor interest towards alternate funds. We saw something similar a couple of years back when Indian investors invested heavily in international funds with an aim to get higher returns from indirectly investing in technology companies overseas. However, thematic funds are riskier in nature. So only a limited portion of portfolio allocation should be made in them,” said Pranav Haldea, MD at Prime Database Group. Thematic funds are investment funds focused on specific themes or trends. They invest in companies with specific themes like investing only in multinational companies, high paying dividend companies and so on to capitalize on growth opportunities and maximize returns. High risk thematic funds is a risky bet Meanwhile, since the sectors like PSU Banks and infrastructure have performed better in the volatile market, investors have been looking to invest in these categories. Also, the PSU Bank index emerged as the top sectoral winner in 2022, recording gains of nearly 73% – or about 16x the gains of the Nifty50 in 2022, as on December 15. “Some of the funds in categories like PSU/infrastructure/ and banking have done well, which naturally attracts more money from investors. In addition, there have been significant new launches, which creates buzz in the market and investors are enticed to invest,” said Dikshit Mittal, fund manager and senior equity research analyst at LIC MF Asset Management. Mittal also highlighted that the domestic banking sector is also in good shape as they have clean balance sheets, the growth runway is large, and valuations are reasonable. Infrastructure as a theme also seems to have a bright outlook considering government focus, budgetary allocations and resurgence of the manufacturing sector in India, says Mittal. Not to forget, thematic funds carry high risk so experts recommend investors to allocate only a part of their corpus to such funds. “In addition, thematic funds need timing to enter and exit so investors need to be agile in exiting these funds when their objective has been achieved,” said Mittal. Timing and theme of the fund is an important factor that derives the performance of the fund as if the theme goes wrong, investor returns will be hugely impacted. “The sudden popularity of thematic funds is largely driven by clients looking to invest in different pockets in the market. In this category, timings and wider themes are a challenging aspect to beat. Most of the existing funds have a narrow theme which ends up impacting their returns. We do not recommend thematic funds as it is not suitable for every investor,” said Kaustubh Belapurkar, director of fund research at Morningstar Investment Adviser India. As thematic funds revolve around a certain theme, they are much less diversified than other large cap equity funds that have a mix of large and mid cap stocks. Experts feel lack of diversification and high risk in thematic funds makes it not suitable for all kinds of investors. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/adani-group-stocks-stage-a-rebound-led-by-adani-enterprises-group-market-capitalisation-rises-by-22011-crore/articleshow/99084630.cms">Adani group stocks stage a rebound led by Adani Enterprises: Group market capitalisation rises by ₹22,011 crore</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tax-hit-on-debt-funds-is-just-the-latest-punch-to-reeling-mutual-fund-companies/articleshow/99081740.cms">Tax hit on debt funds is just the latest punch to reeling mutual fund companies</a>

Can Thematic Funds Beat Market Blues? Time for a reality check amidst all the noise

<keyword id="19895437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment" source="keywords">Investment</keyword> in <keyword id="20300870" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="equity-mutual-funds" source="keywords">equity mutual funds</keyword> surged over five-fold to Rs 94,151 crore in the June 2024 quarter against Rs 18,358 crore a year ago, driven by a strong <keyword id="21477327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-environment" source="keywords">economic environment</keyword>, supportive <keyword id="22575274" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-fiscal-policies" source="keywords">government fiscal policies</keyword>, <keyword id="19900618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investors" source="keywords">investors</keyword> confidence and robust <keyword id="21990858" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stock-return" source="keywords">stock return</keyword>. This has also pushed the industry's assets under management (<keyword id="20019621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AUM" source="keywords">AUM</keyword>) by 59 per cent to Rs 27.68 lakh crore in June from Rs 17.43 lakh crore a year ago, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (<keyword id="20090036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI" source="keywords">AMFI</keyword>) showed. The robust gain in the asset base was also replicated in the growth of investors in equity mutual funds, with the number of folios closing at 13.3 crore, adding an investor base of over 3 crore. The significant gain in equity folios indicates broader participation across investor segments, driven by improved <keyword id="19929245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-literacy" source="keywords">financial literacy</keyword> and accessible investment platforms, Trivesh D, COO of stock trading platform Tradejini, told PTI. According to the AMFI data, equity-oriented mutual fund schemes invested Rs 94,151 crore in the quarter ended June 2024. This comprises Rs 18,917 crore in April, Rs 34,697 crore in May and Rs 40,537 crore in June. The investment in equity-oriented mutual funds jumped five-fold to Rs 94,151 crore in the June quarter from Rs 18,358 crore in the quarter ended June 2023 and increased 32 per cent Rs 71,280 crore witnessed in the preceding March 2024 quarter. "The confluence of political stability, supportive government policies, and a favourable economic environment has significantly contributed to the impressive inflows into equity mutual funds, signalling a positive outlook for the sector," Trivesh said. Strong macroeconomic fundamentals, bolstered by supportive government fiscal policies like higher-than-budgeted tax collection growth, reduced revenue expenditures, and increased capital spending have helped in increasing the allocation to equity mutual funds, Feroze Azeez, Deputy CEO, Anand Rathi Wealth, told PTI. He further said that investors' confidence in the markets and historically strong returns given by Indian equities with relatively low risk also helped investors to move towards equity mutual funds. Additionally, the shift was further fuelled by a transition from traditional investments like deposits to mutual funds in pursuit of higher returns. "The long-term outlook remains positive, with expectations of 11-13 per cent annual returns for Indian equities, and equity mutual funds potentially delivering even higher returns," Azeez said. Within the equity segment, sectoral or thematic category attracted Rs 46,731 crore during the quarter under review, followed by Multi-cap (Rs 10,077 crore), Flexicap (Rs 8,387 crore), Large &amp; Midcaps (Rs 7,948 crore), Smallcap (Rs 7,197 crore) and Midcap (Rs 6,927 crore). Large-cap funds witnessed an infusion of Rs 1,991 crore during the April-June quarter of the current financial year (FY25). Moreover, inflows into the systematic investment plan (<keyword id="19956399" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SIP" source="keywords">SIP</keyword>) have been rising continuously for the past several months. The monthly SIP contributions crossed the Rs 21,000 crore mark in June, with the total inflow reaching an all-time high of Rs 21,262 crore. This shows investors' commitment to disciplined and long-term investing. The fund infusion through the SIP route was Rs 62,537 crore in the April-June quarter of FY25, a remarkable surge from Rs 43,211 crore in the same quarter preceding the fiscal.

Investment in equity mutual funds surge 5-fold to Rs 94,151 cr in June qtr amid robust eco environment

New Delhi, Asset management companies launched 212 <keyword id="20372350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-fund-offerings" source="keywords">new fund offerings</keyword> mobilising Rs 63,854 crore in 2023, marginally higher from previous year, on the back of significant uptrends in broader markets. In comparison, Asset Management Companies (AMCs) garnered Rs 62,187 crore through 228 New Fund Offerings (NFOs) in 2022. Further, they collected Rs 99,704 crore in 2021 and Rs 53,703 crore in 2020, according to data compiled by <keyword id="20372349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morningstar-india" source="keywords">Morningstar India</keyword>. "The trend towards the financialisation of assets in India is unmistakable. Aligned with changing consumption behaviours and a need for a higher standard of living, investors recognise the importance of long-term investing. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for financial planning and the creation of liquid assets to address emergencies and pave the way for wealth-building," FYERS Research said in its report. It further said that "despite indices exhibiting strength, propelled by robust economic activity, steady <keyword id="19951327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gst" source="keywords">GST</keyword> collections, and confidence in government reforms and policies, anticipating a similar outperformance in 2024 may not be prudent. Valuations across various market capitalisations look elevated, advocating a cautious approach to direct equities in the short term". As per the FYERS report, the January-March period of 2023 saw the highest number of NFOs at 57. However, the peak fund mobilisation occurred in the July-September period, totalling Rs 22,049 crore. Additionally, 29 thematic or sectoral funds raised an aggregate of Rs 17,946 crore in 2023. With an increased risk appetite for equities and awareness of products and offerings, retail investors opted for higher-risk products like thematic and sectoral funds compared to other products. Usually, NFOs come during a surging market when investor sentiments are high and optimistic. The NFOs were floated to capitalise on the mood of investors and attract their investment as they were willing to invest at that time. Industry experts said that the stock market performance along with the positive investor sentiments led to higher fund mobilisation through NFOs in 2023. In the year 2023, Nifty 50 index delivered a return of 20 per cent, majorly supported by earnings growth. <keyword id="19994732" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty-midcap" source="keywords">Nifty Midcap</keyword> and <keyword id="20118967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty-smallcap" source="keywords">Nifty Smallcap</keyword> indices recorded impressive returns of 47 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) infused a substantial Rs 1.7 lakh crore into the market and the infusion played a pivotal role in propelling Indian equities beyond the USD 4 trillion market capitalization milestone. Overall, the mutual fund industry saw a net inflow of Rs 2.74 lakh crore in 2023 as compared to an inflow of over Rs 71,000 crore in the preceding year. The huge inflow could be on the back of sustained investors' interest in equity funds, arbitrage funds, and index funds &amp; ETFs. Debt schemes experienced a net outflow of Rs 46,100 crore last year, while equity schemes saw substantial inflows of Rs 1.62 lakh crore, closely followed by hybrid category schemes at Rs 93,208 crore.

Mutual funds collects ₹63,854 cr via new fund offers in 2023

<ul><li>Flexi cap funds can invest across different market capitalisations such as large, mid and small caps. </li><li>Their appeal lies in the hands-on management provided by a professional, alleviating the need for investors to engage in extensive deliberation. </li><li>Investors are advised a long term horizon, at least five years or more, while investing in flexi cap funds. </li></ul>As of November 30, 2023, the assets under management in the flexi-cap category totaled ₹3.06 lakh crore, making it the largest asset base within the equity category, according to Association of <keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="Orion">Mutual Funds</keyword> in India (AMFI) data. Market regulator, SEBI had introduced new guidelines for multi-cap funds on September 11, 2020. The main essence of these proposed changes to the multi-cap category was that, starting from January 31, 2021, these funds would be required to allocate a minimum of 25% of their portfolio to large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks each. After the announcement of the new guidelines regarding multi-cap funds, there were numerous discussions about the potential drawbacks for both investors and the markets. Recognising these concerns, SEBI appeared to acknowledge the issues and subsequently introduced a new category - flexi cap funds in November 2020. Flexi cap funds can invest across different market capitalisations such as large, mid and small caps. The benefit of this strategy is that these funds can tweak the allocation across market cap as per the evolving opportunities. For instance, if the fund manager foresees an impending economic downturn, he or she can tweak the portfolio towards large caps which can give relative stability and protect the downside to some extent. Similarly, having exposure to mid and small cap companies when there is a turnaround helps generate some extra alpha. This flexibility allows fund managers to adjust their portfolio allocations dynamically, taking advantage of changing market dynamics and identifying potential investment opportunities across different segments of the market. “It provides them with the freedom to invest in large-cap stocks when they see valuation comfort in that segment, and similarly, in mid-cap or small-cap stocks when they expect that market cap to do well,” says Amey Sathe, Fund Manager, Tata Mutual Fund. Why the <keyword id="10261513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flexicap" source="Orion">flexicap</keyword> fund category is so big The popularity of flexi cap funds stems from their inherent flexibility, sparing investors the need to navigate the complexities of choosing between mid-cap, small-cap, or large-cap investments. “By opting for a flexicap fund, investors can simply allocate their funds to this class, entrusting the fund manager with the responsibility of strategic allocation based on market conditions,” says Soumya Sarkar, Co-Founder, Wealth Redefine, a mutual fund distribution firm. The appeal lies in the hands-on management provided by a professional, alleviating the need for investors to engage in extensive deliberation over whether to focus on large-cap, mid-cap, or small-cap investments – a key reason why flexi cap funds are favoured by investors. Most of the fund managers have been managing this category conservatively with a tilt towards large cap and use mid and small cap portions as a tool to alpha generation. “Given the current scenario where large-cap has not run up much and small-cap has given a tremendous run, investors are allocating into the funds that are heavy on large-cap but at the same time give some flavour of mid and small-cap stocks which is talk of the town,” says Mukesh kochar National Head of Wealth at AUM Capital, a wealth management firm. <keyword id="6374680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="returns" source="Orion">Returns</keyword> In the last one year, flexi cap funds as a category have given returns of 28.29% according to Valueresearch, while the three-year return has been 19.65%. Flexicap funds are benchmarked against the Nifty 500 Total Return Index (TRI) which has returned 22.51% in the last year. “We expect the category to gain prominence in 2024 considering valuation in various market caps is at crossroads and there is no compulsion to invest in categories wherein valuations are expensive,” says Sathe. <keyword id="17715484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="should-you-invest" source="Orion">Should you invest</keyword>? Choosing to invest in a flexi-cap fund demands careful thought owing to its high risk nature. Unlike more conservative alternatives like balanced advantage funds, hybrid funds, or large-cap funds, flexi-cap funds carry increased risk by distributing funds across mid-cap and small-cap categories. This renders them inappropriate for risk-averse investors but appealing to those comfortable with higher levels of risk. Investors must recognize that their money, regardless of the amount, will be invested in mid-cap and small-cap categories, requiring a sufficient risk appetite and <keyword id="6133603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="time-horizon" source="Orion">time horizon</keyword>. “If investors lack these attributes, it may be advisable to avoid flexi-cap funds; however, for those willing to embrace some risk without extensive analysis, flexi-cap funds present a viable investment option,” says Sarkar. Investors should thus have a long term horizon, at least five years or more, while investing in flexi cap funds. Investors should spread their allocation across funds with different styles (growth and value) for diversification. Kochar advises that for the first-time investor, it is advisable to go through the balance advantage fund route as these are more stable and less volatile compared to a flexicap fund which is 100% equity-oriented. These funds are relatively less risky as compared to sector or thematic funds. However, they are not completely immune to volatility. Thus, investors should be prepared to withstand some volatility and have a long term horizon while investing in this category of funds.

Flexicap funds explained: Do they provide the play your mutual funds portfolio needs?

<ul><li>When building a MF <keyword id="27676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="portfolio" source="Orion">portfolio</keyword>, defining clear goals is essential. </li><li>An investor needs to keep in mind what kind of risk taking ability he/she has. </li><li>An investor should know his/her investment horizon and see if it aligns with that of the fund. </li></ul>More and more Indian investors are believing in the slogan often heard during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 telecast – ‘<keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="Orion">Mutual Funds</keyword> Sahi Hain’. According to data by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) in October, ₹16,928 crore (approx $2 billion) flowed into SIP accounts, adding up to a total inflow of ₹1.75 lakh crore over the preceding twelve months. In October 2022, it stood at ₹13,040 crore. With over 44 registered mutual fund houses in India and a wide variety of fund categories, it is not easy to construct a mutual funds portfolio that is suitable for one’s needs. Here we take a look at some key factors that will help you build a mutual funds portfolio and select the categories of funds to invest in. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Constructing a portfolio" comment="Subhead" text="Constructing a portfolio">Constructing a portfolio</cmsannotation> When designing and then constructing one’s mutual fund portfolio, there are three crucial factors to consider. “First, age plays a significant role in determining the investment strategy. Second, defining clear financial goals is essential – whether it's retirement planning or funding your child's education, specifying when these goals should be met is key. Lastly, one must assess their risk tolerance,” says Soumya Sarkar, Co-Founder, Wealth Redefine, a mutual funds distribution firm. For example, when you are in your 30s or 40s, there is still a long time to go for retirement, so you can have a greater portion of your portfolio invested in equity funds, but when you are near to a goal like child’s education or retirement, you should make a shift to debt because capital preservation becomes important. “While age and goals are important, the emphasis should largely lean towards risk tolerance, accounting for around 60% of the decision-making process. Understanding how comfortable one is with potential fluctuations in the market is paramount, as it guides the selection of mutual funds that align with their risk profile,” says Sarkar. The remaining 40% should factor in age and goal timelines to craft a well-balanced mutual fund portfolio that suits individual financial aspirations and risk appetite. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Deciding on the type of mutual fund to invest in" comment="Subhead" text="Deciding on the type of mutual fund to invest in">Deciding on the type of mutual fund to invest in</cmsannotation> It all starts with asset allocation and depends on the individual, his preference and his requirements. Shaily Gang, Head-Products, Tata Mutual Fund, explains. Let us say someone decides 70:30 in equity and debt. Within that 70% if someone is very aggressive and has the horizon and has the capacity to take volatility then one can go very aggressive on thematic, sector and small cap funds, which could total to 35% of that 70%. The rest of the 65% of the 70% of equity allocation will be formed by diversified funds. Someone else with a high risk appetite may decide to invest 50% of his equity exposure into <keyword id="509662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="large-cap-funds" source="Orion">large cap funds</keyword> and another 50% in small cap funds. However, it is advised that if a person has a horizon of three to five years, <keyword id="882925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-funds" source="Orion">hybrid funds</keyword> like equity savings funds and balanced advantage funds, are a good option because they carry less risk than pure equity funds. “So an investor needs to keep in mind what kind of risk taking ability he has, his horizon for that part of the investment and also map that to the horizon of the fund. For example, if someone has a high risk taking capacity and the investor has a horizon of beyond five years, then he can invest in a small cap fund,” says Gang. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Making the most of market trends?" comment="Subhead" text="Making the most of market trends?">Making the most of market trends?</cmsannotation> Predicting specific market periods is challenging, as rallies can be unpredictable. “Investors can use various parameters to make informed decisions, such as the price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book value, standard deviation, and rolling returns in mutual funds,” says Sarkar. Rolling returns indicate how fund managers have performed over different time frames, providing insights into potential future performance. While not always foolproof, these metrics are often reliable. Should a sector remain undervalued over an extended duration, there exists a probability that it will eventually exhibit strong performance, irrespective of whether it falls into the large-cap, mid-cap, or small-cap category. This positive performance has the potential to yield favourable returns for investors. “Currently small cap valuations are attractive. Let’s say that when markets are heated small caps trade at 40-50% of the large caps but currently they are trading at 5% premium. So they are very reasonably valued. One would need to visit all of these things before making a decision,” says Gang. To sum up, although accurately timing market periods is challenging, slightly evolved investors can utilise these metrics to make informed decisions and potentially capitalise on rallies specific to particular sectors.

You Searched For "sectoral thematic funds" and got 10 results

The newest fad in mutual fund multiverse: Sectoral Funds. Here's why you should not over-invest in them

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

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

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Explained: Will thematic funds continue to be attractive in 2024?

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New fund alert: 'Axis India Manufacturing Fund'

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Can Thematic Funds Beat Market Blues? Time for a reality check amidst all the noise

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Investment in equity mutual funds surge 5-fold to Rs 94,151 cr in June qtr amid robust eco environment

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Mutual funds collects ₹63,854 cr via new fund offers in 2023

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Flexicap funds explained: Do they provide the play your mutual funds portfolio needs?

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Seek to build a healthy mutual fund portfolio? Key things to keep in mind

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