BUSINESS
Gold, growth, fund flows: The investor beliefs that data debunks
From the gold-versus-equities debate to the assumption that high growth guarantees high returns, a close look at long-term data should make investors rethink what really drives long-term performance, says DSP Asset Manager’s Netra report
BUSINESS
Stock-specific opportunities will matter more than market-cap trends in 2026: Axis MF’s Shreyash Devalkar
A large part of that underperformance has already played out through valuation correction. Because of the underperformance, India’s valuation premium over emerging markets has come down sharply, Devalkar said.
BUSINESS
SEBI in the process of constituting a working group to develop a tech roadmap for MIIs: SEBI Chair
This roadmap will provide a structured five-year and ten-year strategic technology vision for the securities market ecosystem, said Tuhin Kanta Pandey
BUSINESS
Cigarette stocks shed nearly Rs 60,000 crore in market cap as experts flag near-term volume risk after excise hike
Analysts say the focus in the coming quarter will be on actual volumes under the new duty, management’s approach to price pass-through, and consumer demand trends.
BUSINESS
Fund managers cautiously optimistic on 2026; stock selection to drive returns
While fund managers broadly agree on the improving macro backdrop, sector preferences show sharper divergence, reinforcing the view that 2026 will reward bottom-up stock selection rather than thematic bets.
BUSINESS
Earnings growth to drive equity returns in 2026, not valuation re-rating: Kotak AMC’s Nilesh Shah
On strategy, Shah emphasized: “Follow the dharma of asset allocation—diversify across equity, debt, real estate, and precious metals with discipline. Reset SIP expectations to realistic levels, focus on quality growth at reasonable prices, and stay invested through volatility. India’s story is far from over; patience and selectivity will reward in 2026.”
BUSINESS
2025 in review: SIFs make debut, Sebi overhauls MF regulations as equities, commodities lead gains
Equity schemes remained popular, recording net inflows of Rs 3.22 lakh crore between January and November. Monthly inflows held strong, with Rs 29,911 crore in November, Rs 24,690 crore in October, and Rs 30,422 crore in September. Inflows peaked in July at Rs 42,702 crore, supported by retail sentiment and SIP contributions.
BUSINESS
60% of 2025 NFO launches were passive, but active schemes saw higher mobilisation
Across the year, 72 index fund launches mobilised roughly Rs 6,424 crore. March was the standout month, when 11 index fund NFOs alone raised Rs 2,049 crore, forming the bulk of passive inflows for the year.
BUSINESS
Digital gold: What you should know before investing
Digital gold makes buying and holding gold simple, but it also comes with its own set of costs, risks, and regulatory gaps. Here’s a closer look at what investors need to know.
BUSINESS
Global investing: Here is all that Indian investors need to know
Indian investors now have multiple avenues to access global markets, each with its own products, platforms, costs, taxation rules, and risks. Understanding these options is crucial before investing.
BUSINESS
Digital gold volumes cross 940 million YTD; November value declines
Digital gold volumes have remained strong because investors can buy in very small amounts, especially as rising gold prices have made physical coins and bars expensive, says an analyst
BUSINESS
India’s market infrastructure hits Rs 700 bn in FY25; Jefferies sees demat accounts racing to 304 million by FY28
Jefferies noted that younger investors are driving incremental participation, with investors below 30 years accounting for about 40% of the investor base in FY25, compared with roughly 20% in the pre-pandemic period. IPO activity has also contributed to new investor additions.
BUSINESS
Mutual fund expense ratio: What it really pays for and why SEBI’s latest changes matter
A key change is the replacement of the Total Expense Ratio with Base Expense Ratio. Sebi has kept external levies such as GST, stamp duty, Securities Transaction Tax, Commodity Transaction Tax, and other statutory charges outside the BER. As a result, the BER will now only include fund-level costs such as management fees.
BUSINESS
Industry welcomes revised expense rules, but could distributors feel the pinch?
Industry participants say the answer is not straightforward and will take time to assess. While expense caps have been lowered, asset management companies (AMCs) are unlikely to absorb the entire impact
INDIA
ICICI Pru AMC files draft documents for two SIFs with SEBI
At present, SEBI has permitted seven investment strategies across equity, debt and hybrid asset classes under the SIF framework.
BUSINESS
More favourable expense ratio, higher brokerage cap welcome relief for MFs, brokerages
In addition, the regulator has reduced the BER for passive products such as index funds and ETFs from 1% to 0.90%. Close-ended equity funds will now be capped at 1%, while close-ended debt funds can charge up to 0.80%. For funds of funds, the limits have been set at 0.90% for index FoFs, 2.10% for equity FoFs and 1.85% for other FoFs.
BUSINESS
Mutual funds push for indexation relief on debt funds in FY27 Budget wishlist to FM
Experts say the taxation is also critical for efficient price discovery and development of bond market development
BUSINESS
Short-term equity uncertain; long-term growth backed by consumption, investment, policy: Neelesh Surana
Surana noted the correction was sharper in the NSE 500, mid-tier, and some small-cap stocks, while large-cap indices like the Nifty remained resilient.
BUSINESS
Mirae Asset MF to expand GIFT City fund offerings, launch first local ETF
Despite some challenges, Shah said GIFT City remains a strong long-term opportunity, but meaningful scale will depend on better awareness, smoother capital flows, faster onboarding and simpler compliance processes.
BUSINESS
Managing scale while delivering good risk-adjusted returns has been key: ICICI Pru AMC’s Nimesh Shah
Digital onboarding and SIP-led flows would be key enablers of the AMC’s expansion, says CEO Nimesh Shah
INDIA
Raamdeo Agrawal, Ramesh Damani and Sunil Mahtani on the power of compounding and their biggest 'investment misses'
Of the starting list of top 500 companies in 2008, only 35—just 7%—ended up as compounders. The rare winners combine sustained growth, consistent outperformance, and strong leadership, an MOFSL report highlighted
BUSINESS
Defence, capital goods players stand out in Motilal Oswal’s Wealth Creation Study; Banking, Finance top list
Many of the companies that have performed well during this period are expected to continue creating significant wealth in the years ahead.
BUSINESS
MF assets cross Rs 80 lakh cr on broad-based inflows; equity, hybrid and ETFs drive Nov momentum
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows remained healthy at Rs 29,445 crore, down just 0.3% MoM due to the month ending on a weekend.
BUSINESS
SIP inflows stay near record at Rs 29,445 crore in November despite high stoppage ratio
The decline in flows for the month, according to AMFI's Venkat Chalasani can be attributed to month-end dates falling on a weekend, which pushed some contributions into early December and did not signal a slowdown.
