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    Mutual Funds

    Mutual funds are a vehicle for investing in stocks and bonds. It is not an alternative investment option to stocks and bonds, but rather it pools the money of several investors and invests this in stocks, bonds, money market instruments and other types of securities. Buying a mutual fund is like buying a small slice of a big pizza. The owner of a mutual fund unit gets a proportional share of the fund’s gains, losses, income and expenses. Each mutual fund has a specific stated objective (what the fund will invest in) which is laid out in its prospectus – the legal document that contains information about the fund, its history, its officers and its performance. The mutual fund regulations require that the fund’s objectives are clearly spelt out in the prospectus. Some popular objectives include equity (stocks), debt (fixed income securities) and money markets. Mutual Funds in India are managed by an Asset Management Company (AMC) that may have several mutual fund schemes with similar or varied investment objectives. AMCs hire a professional money manager, who buys and sells securities in line with the fund's stated objective. All AMCs Regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and funds are governed by a Board of Directors that is supposed to represent the shareholders' interests, rather than the AMC’s. More

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    • Point-to-Point vs Rolling Returns for Mutual Funds: Full Breakdown

      Point-to-point returns or rolling returns — which one should you trust while choosing a mutual fund? Most investors compare mutual funds using 1-year or 3-year returns—but that can be misleading! In this episode of MC Explains, brought to you by Moneycontrol.com and Invesco Mutual Fund, we break down the essential difference between these two return metrics and how they impact your fund-selection decisions. Mutual fund NAVs change every day, and depending on the date you pick, point-to-point returns can vary drastically.

    • Chart of the Day | Flexi cap funds redefine investor strategy in 2025

      The concentration of flows in flexi cap funds, coupled with rising interest in gold and silver ETFs reveals a market seeking both flexibility and hedging instruments

    • How to invest in direct mutual funds for your child without overcomplicating it

      You don’t need special “child plans” to build money for your child. A simple direct mutual fund, structured correctly, can do the job more efficiently.

    • SEBI board clears expansion of credit rating agencies’ mandate beyond SEBI-regulated instruments

      SEBI's move to expand credit ratings agencies' mandate is aimed at addressing regulatory gaps faced by market participants, while putting in place safeguards to ensure clear separation between SEBI-regulated rating activities and non-SEBI-regulated businesses.

    • Direct vs regular mutual funds in 2025: Which option actually works better for you

      The difference between direct and regular funds is not about returns alone, it is about advice, behaviour, and how you actually invest over time

    • Mutual Funds keep cash buffers elevated in November amid market gains

      Fresh data from ACE Equities show aggregate cash holdings in active equity schemes eased to 4.68 percent in November from 4.79 percent in October. In absolute terms, however, reserves held largely steady at about Rs 2.02 lakh crore, compared with Rs 2.03 lakh crore a month earlier.

    • What are ESG mutual funds in India and should you invest in them in 2025?

      A clear look at how ESG funds work, how they have evolved in India, and whether they deserve a place in your long-term portfolio.

    • How to use SWP in mutual funds to create a steady retirement income

      A simple guide to how a systematic withdrawal plan can create reliable monthly income, protect your corpus and help you avoid running out of money too early.

    • 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.

    • Swiggy QIP: SBI MF, ICICI Prudential MF, Temasek, GIC, and others drive over 4X demand for Rs 10,000 crore QIP

      Temasek, an early backer of Eternal (formerly Zomato), is now looking to bet on Swiggy, sources told Moneycontrol.

    • India’s MF AUM could surge past Rs 300 lakh crore as SIP ticket sizes jump across investor segments: Report

      Salaried millennials in metros now contribute the largest SIP amounts, with average monthly SIPs around Rs 10,000

    • Children are influencing parents to invest, says Groww's Harsh Jain as equity becomes mainstream

      The popular SIP inflows have demonstrated a significant 25 percent CAGR over the past decade, primarily driven by young and new-to-equity market investors from smaller towns and cities

    • Should you invest in sectoral mutual funds in 2025? What they are, and the pros and cons explained

      A simple guide to understanding how sectoral funds work and whether they belong in your portfolio today.

    • MF leaders welcome SEBI’s REIT-as-Equity Move; tax opportunities seen as advantages amid liquidity concerns

      SEBI’s move to classify REITs as equity from January 1 is expected to boost mutual fund participation by easing regulatory limits.

    • How to register a nominee for your bank accounts, mutual funds, and EPF online

      A nomination ensures that your money reaches the person you intend without long legal delays, yet many savers skip this simple step until it becomes a problem for their families.

    • Loan against mutual funds: A flexible way to raise cash without selling investments

      A loan against mutual funds lets you unlock money from your investments without selling them, but it only works well if the need is short term and you are disciplined about repayment.

    • MFs invest over Rs 13,500 crore across 10 IPOs in Oct

      Canara HSBC Life leads with heavy mutual fund demand, while Tata Capital and Lenskart draw muted interest in a mixed month for primary markets

    • Mutual Funds keep cash buffers high in October amid market gains

      Active equity schemes retain elevated reserves even as markets rise and foreign inflows return.

    • PPFAS plans new large-cap fund, sparks investor questions on one-equity-fund philosophy; CEO Parikh to clarify

      The proposed Parag Parikh Large Cap Fund marks the fund house’s first new equity offering in over a decade. Over the years, PPFAS added a few distinctly positioned schemes -- tax-saving, income-oriented, or asset-allocation tools -- rather than overlapping equity products.

    • MF sector unlocks new milestone as equity assets cross Rs 50 lakh crore mark for first time

      The AUC stood at Rs 50.83 lakh crore, marking a record high and a sharp 30 percent rise from the February low of Rs 39.21 lakh crore

    • Mutual Funds vs Mutton Funds: Should you ditch your mutual fund and give your money to a sheep farmer?

      It’s worth a serious consideration, but here is why it doesn’t seem to work

    • NPS, mutual funds, PPF or FDs: Choose the option that works best for you

      A practical guide to understanding which option fits your goals, risk and retirement timeline.

    • India’s next leg of rally: Quant MF predicts new all-time highs, launches innovative SMID long-short fund

      The NFO closes on November 7, 2025. The note explains that the fund aims to bridge an important gap in the market by combining small- and mid-cap exposures within a single, actively managed framework which is a structure not previously available to Indian investors

    • Fintechs worried as new customer consent flow for accessing mutual fund portfolio to increase cost, friction

      Cumbersome new process involves OTP and QR code upload, replacing the earlier one-time consent.

    • Franklin Templeton launches multi-factor quant fund at a time of regulatory churn and high valuations

      The Franklin India Multi-Factor Fund (FIMF), an open-ended equity scheme following a multi-factor quantitative investment strategy, will open for subscription between November 10-24. The fund is designed to complement, not replace, the traditional fundamental way of investing, Franklin India said.

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