Prashant Mahesh

Indian fund managers focused on defensive stocks in April. Pharmaceuticals saw increased investment due to opportunities like the semaglutide patent expiry. NBFCs and asset management companies also received attention. PNB Housing Finance was added as funds shifted towards retail lending. This strategy reflects concerns over oil prices and West Asian geopolitical tensions.

Fund managers hold cash in equity schemes for various reasons, including market overvaluation, difficulty finding quality stocks, and to meet daily redemption requests. While cash offers a downside buffer, high levels can lead to underperformance if markets rally, potentially causing investor outflows.

Investing in equity through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) offers greater predictability and reduced risk over extended periods. A study reveals that longer tenures, ideally 10 years or more, allow investors to navigate market cycles and benefit from rupee cost averaging.

Multi-asset allocation funds, once seen as a guaranteed win, showed a wide performance range last year, from 3.3% to 24.6%. Investors flocked to these funds as volatile markets made asset allocation challenging, with top performers favoring gold and silver. Future success will depend on fund managers' tactical asset allocation and selective equity positioning.

Gilt funds invest in government securities. These funds are sensitive to interest rate changes. Rising yields have recently led to weak returns for gilt funds. Investors should consider gilt funds when bond yields are high. These funds are not ideal for those seeking stable returns or high liquidity. Understanding interest rate cycles is key for gilt fund investors.

Indian investors are increasingly looking overseas as global markets outperform domestic equities, driven by themes like AI. While international mutual funds are a simple route, they face utilization limits. Alternative options include GIFT City-based funds and direct investing via international brokerage accounts, each with its own process and costs.

Two years of challenging equity market returns appear to be prompting a section of retail investors to reassess exposure to the stock market, with industry data showing rising monthly systematic investment plan (SIP) discontinuations and a slowdown in new investor additions.

Challenging equity market returns are prompting retail investors to reassess their stock market exposure. Industry data reveals a rise in systematic investment plan (SIP) discontinuations and a slowdown in new investor additions. This trend indicates investor disappointment with lower-than-expected returns. The situation highlights a shift in investor sentiment amid market conditions.

The RBI maintained its repo rate at 5.25% and a neutral stance, raising inflation forecasts due to West Asian conflict-driven oil price hikes. Fund managers suggest corporate bonds for accrual income and a tactical bet on long-tenure gilt funds, anticipating improved FPI inflows after tax benefits.

Three major asset management companies have imposed purchase restrictions on large investors in gold mutual fund schemes. This move aims to curb gold imports and manage strong inflows, with retail investors expected to remain unaffected. Wealth managers see this as a response to the Prime Minister's call to reduce imports, following gold's significant recent performance.