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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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  • 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

    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

    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.

  • SEBI's fee revolution -- Investors cheer, AMCs flinch

    SEBI's fee revolution -- Investors cheer, AMCs flinch

    SEBI's proposed mutual fund fee cuts promise to save retail investors thousands annually, but AMCs and brokers are bracing for a profit squeeze that could reshape India's fund industry.

  • Child vs regular mutual funds: Lock-in, tax rules, exit load explained

    Child vs regular mutual funds: Lock-in, tax rules, exit load explained

    Child mutual funds typically have a lock-in period (mostly five years) or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier, with most fund houses imposing an exit penalty of around 4 percent for withdrawals before maturity.

  • Why mutual funds, FDs, and digital wallets must be part of your estate planning

    Why mutual funds, FDs, and digital wallets must be part of your estate planning

    Proper planning protects your investment assets and online properties to be easily transferable to your beneficiaries.

  • Mutual funds: How to check your KYC status and update it? Step-by-step guide

    Mutual funds: How to check your KYC status and update it? Step-by-step guide

    Before you start investing, make sure your KYC is in place. Here’s how to check and update it online in minutes.

  • FIIs pare stakes in Adani Group firms, offload shares worth over Rs 7,000 crore in September quarter

    FIIs pare stakes in Adani Group firms, offload shares worth over Rs 7,000 crore in September quarter

    Foreign investors ease exposure across five Adani firms even as SEBI clears group of regulatory breach allegations.

  • Mutual funds trim cash marginally in September; caution persists amid market swings

    Mutual funds trim cash marginally in September; caution persists amid market swings

    Cash as a share of total equity assets slipped below 3 percent—the lowest in sixteen months—compared with 3.11 percent a month earlier. Total equity AUM stood at Rs 49.06 lakh crore.

  • Not returns but trust is the key to capital market success: Sebi’s Tuhin Kanta Pandey to MF trustees

    Not returns but trust is the key to capital market success: Sebi’s Tuhin Kanta Pandey to MF trustees

    Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized that trust, not just returns, forms the foundation of India’s capital markets. He urged mutual fund trustees to uphold independence, oversight, and accountability to safeguard investor confidence.

  • Getting a digital loan against your mutual funds made simple

    Getting a digital loan against your mutual funds made simple

    Increasingly, banks and fintechs now enable investors to access liquidity from their holdings in mutual funds without having to sell them.

  • Gifting mutual funds made easy: How to transfer units in non-demat mode

    Gifting mutual funds made easy: How to transfer units in non-demat mode

    Passing on your mutual fund units to family or friends doesn’t always need a demat account—here’s how you can do it seamlessly.

  • Do you really need an advisor to choose the right mutual funds?

    Do you really need an advisor to choose the right mutual funds?

    Investing in the world of mutual funds can be overwhelming, and expert advice can help you pair your investment with long-term goals.

  • Mutual Funds Seen Trimming Tech Bets as Visa Fees, Wage Pressures Darken Outlook

    Mutual Funds Seen Trimming Tech Bets as Visa Fees, Wage Pressures Darken Outlook

    Funds may deepen underweights in Indian IT as Trump’s H-1B shock, looming wage hikes and outsourcing taxes threaten earnings visibility.

  • MFs lose Rs 13,000 crore in IT sell-off after Trump’s H-1B visa shock

    MFs lose Rs 13,000 crore in IT sell-off after Trump’s H-1B visa shock

    Mutual fund holdings in IT majors tumble as record $100,000 visa fee sparks concerns over profitability and hiring shifts

  • DIIs set new record with Rs 5.3 lakh-crore equities bought in 2025 so far, beats 2024 peak

    DIIs set new record with Rs 5.3 lakh-crore equities bought in 2025 so far, beats 2024 peak

    DIIs pump in record Rs 5.3 lakh crore in 2025 so far, led by Rs 3.65 lakh crore from mutual funds and over Rs 1 lakh crore from insurers and pensions

  • Is now the time to shift from direct REITs to mutual funds?

    Is now the time to shift from direct REITs to mutual funds?

    With volatile real estate markets and evolving tax rules, investors are weighing the trade-off between direct REIT holdings and diversified mutual fund exposure.

  • Maximum permissible exit load by mutual funds lowered to 3%, Sebi approves distributor incentive scheme to widen reach

    Maximum permissible exit load by mutual funds lowered to 3%, Sebi approves distributor incentive scheme to widen reach

    Sebi has announced measures to strengthen investor protection and financial inclusion via mutual funds.

  • Mutual fund folios near record 25-crore mark but pace softens in first 5 months of FY26

    Mutual fund folios near record 25-crore mark but pace softens in first 5 months of FY26

    While the cumulative number is at a record high, nearing the 25-crore mark, the pace of growth has slowed compared to the first five months of FY25

  • Equity schemes saw inflows in August but smallcap and sectoral funds slowed down

    Equity schemes saw inflows in August but smallcap and sectoral funds slowed down

    Largecap funds attracted Rs 2,835 crore in net inflow, up from Rs 2,125 crore in July and broadly in line with August 2024. Midcap schemes continued their strong run with Rs 5,331 crore as inflow in August, a shade above July and significantly higher than August 2024.

  • Debt funds lose momentum in August as liquid flows turn negative

    Debt funds lose momentum in August as liquid flows turn negative

    Net inflows eased across short-duration categories; liquid and gilt schemes recorded outflows after July’s surge

  • Retirement planning with mutual funds: Are they the right choice for you?

    Retirement planning with mutual funds: Are they the right choice for you?

    You can use mutual funds to accumulate a sizable retirement corpus, but the appropriate type and strategy will be the key.

  • PPFAS’s Rajeev Thakkar: Shakeout needed for next leg up, sideways markets offer breather

    PPFAS’s Rajeev Thakkar: Shakeout needed for next leg up, sideways markets offer breather

    Hyper competition and valuation premiums rather than tariffs keeping a lid on stocks prices, according to Thakkar

  • Invesco Mutual Fund gets Sebi nod for 60% stake transfer to IIHL

    Invesco Mutual Fund gets Sebi nod for 60% stake transfer to IIHL

    Invesco Mutual Fund | IIHL will be holding the investment through its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary, IIHL AMC Holdings Limited (IIHL AMC), which has been incorporated specifically for the purposes of the proposed combination.

  • Selecting mutual funds? Avoid these common pitfalls

    Selecting mutual funds? Avoid these common pitfalls

    Mutual funds have the potential to create long-term wealth, but careless selection guarantees only disappointment and smaller returns.

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