Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Fund management style has implications for investors

Arnav Pandya is a Chartered Accountant and a management graduate from IIM Bangalore with a specialisation in Finance. He is also a Certified Financial Planner with experience of over a decade in the field of personal finance.
Mutual fund schemes adopt a distinctive style of investment. Each specific style sends out a specific signal to investors, but in several cases the investment style is not even considered while making an investment decision.
There is a lot that the investment style can tell an investor and hence this requires adequate attention. Two prominent styles that are often followed include the growth style and the value style. Here is a closer look at these areas and the features that they actually represent.
Related to equity funds:
There are different types of funds in the market. The two distinct categories are debt funds and equity funds. There are completely different factors that are at work in each of these areas and hence they require a different style of operation. With thousands of stocks listed on the stock exchange the importance of the style of investing increases for distinguishing between equity funds. These often go on to impacting the returns earned from the schemes.
Growth style of investing :
One of the prominent features of any investment into equities is the expectation of a capital gain in the transaction. The kind of company that is selected for the investment is important because of the fact that its position in its industry and its performance will determine the price movement on the stock exchanges. In such a situation selection of companies that are growing rapidly is one way to structure the equity portfolio.
Selecting growth companies will mean that these entities are in a stage of rapid rise in their sales and net profit and hence the valuation that they get will be different from other companies. Usually such companies have a higher price earnings ratio because of the expectation of the rise in the profits in these companies. Selecting such companies seeks to gain through the rapid rise witnessed by the company and hence is called the growth style of investing.
Value style of investing :
The value style of investment is involved in the search for value among the various stocks in the market. Here the effort is concentrated in searching for companies whose value in the market is actually less than the intrinsic value of the business along with its potential. The whole strategy here involves a situation where the shares are bought at these low levels and then the fund manager waits for the market to recognize the value and this will lead to a rise in the share price.
This is often a long drawn out strategy that takes time to actually show results and hence there is a lot of patience required. There is also a danger that in many cases the actual value might not be realised at all in the market and hence this is a specific risk that is associated with the investment. At the same time if this strategy works out then the returns available for the investor can also be high
Mutual fund scenario :
There are a large number of funds that follow a growth style of investment especially among diversified equity funds. This is more popular because of the fact that it is also able to show returns to the investors quickly and this makes it popular. Also a portfolio based on this strategy is easier to explain to the investors as compared to the value investing style.
Some fund managers often follow the value investing style when they believe that this will yield returns in the coming time period. The returns are often huge from this strategy but with a high element of risk because the option has to work in order that the gains come in. There are also times when the market situation is such that there are no value options present for the fund manager and in such a situation they have to adopt some other strategy.
Understanding and knowing these options is vital for any investor to make their selection decision about particular mutual funds and hence they need to ensure that this check is done before a final decision is taken.

Mutual funds regain Rs 5-trillion assets in Feb

The country's mutual fund industry regained the Rs 5,00,000 crore-mark in assets with Reliance MF maintaining its top position as its average AUM increased to nearly Rs 5,500 crore at the end of February. The mutual fund industry's total assets under management (AUM) grew by Rs 40,000 crore, or 8.8 per cent, and analysts believe it was mainly due to the inflow in fixed income plans in expectations of an interest rate cut.
The combined average AUM of the 34 fund houses in the country increased to Rs 5,00,973.37 crore in February as compared to Rs 4,60,948.99 crore in January, according to the data released by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). “Fixed income fund s were in demand in February as investors were anticipating a rate cut by the RBI and it is expected the increase in assets for mutual funds will continue in coming months due to some risk aversion creeping in,'' said DhirendraKumar, CEO, Value Research.

Fidelity converts short-term income fund into Flexi bond fund

Fidelity Mutual Fund on Tuesday said it has converted its Fidelity Short-Term Income Fund into a flexi-bond, removing the restriction of four years on the average maturity of the portfolio.
Re-named the Fidelity Flexi Bond Fund, the fund has no duration bias and no cap bias with regard to money market or bond products, a release here stated.
The portfolio will be constructed and actively managed to generate reasonable returns and to maintain adequate liquidity to accommodate funds movement.
Capital appreciation opportunities will be explored by extending credit and duration exposure, the release said.
The performance of the fund will now be benchmarked against the Crisil Composite Bond Fund Index instead of the earlier benchmark of Crisil Short-Term Bond Fund Index.
Fidelity International India's Managing Director and Country Head, Ashu Suyash, said that "with the flexible nature of the investment mandate of the Fidelity Flexi Bond Fund, investors now have the option of investing in a fund that will work through various interest rate cycles and credit scenarios."
"Investors looking at a longer-term option to stay invested in bonds now have one fund that will actively straddle various maturities depending on the market environment," Suyash said.

Morgan Stanley taps Principal's fixed income head

Morgan Stanley's Indian mutual fund unit has hired Principal Financial Group's Ritesh Jain as head of fixed income, a top executive said on Tuesday.
"He has joined effective today," Anthony Heredia, chief executive of Morgan Stanley Investment Management told Reuters.
Jain, who has over a decade of experience in financial services sector, earlier worked as head of fixed income at Principal Pnb Asset Management.
Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-38304820090303

Suggested Portfolio

As per many readers request please find below portfolio of equiry mutual fund for diffrent risk appetite investors:

:: Aggrasive Portfolio ::

  • JM Emerging Leader Fund (Multicap Fund) 12%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Focus Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 8%
  • JM Basic Fund (Infrastructure focus Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Regular Saving Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 10%
  • Fidelity Special Situation Fund (Stock picker Fund) 11%
  • Kotak Opportunity Fund (Diversified Equity Fund) 8%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 13%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balamce Fund) 8%
  • IDFC Liquidity Mangager Plus Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

:: Moderate Portfolio ::
  • IDFC Imperial Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • JM Emerging Leader Fund (Multicap Fund) 10%
  • Fidelity Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 11%
  • Reliance Regular Saving Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 11%
  • JM Contra Fund (Diversified Equity Fund) 10%
  • DSP TIGER Fund (Sector Fund) 9%
  • Reliance Vision Fund (Large Cap Fund) 9%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 9%
  • ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan (Dynamic Fund) 9%
  • IDFC Liquidity Manager Plus Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

:: Conservative Portfolio ::
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 20%
  • Fidelity Equity Fund (Large Cap Equity Fund) 8%
  • Reliance Vison Fund (Largecap Fund) 8%
  • JM Contra Fund (Diversified Equity Fund) 8%
  • Birla Sun life Frontline Equity Fund (Largecap Fund) 8%
  • Canara Robeco Balance Fund (Balance Fund) 16%
  • JM Arbitrage Advantage Fund (Arbitrage Fund) 20%
  • IDFC Liquidity Manager Plus Fund (Liquid Fund) 12%

Let me tell you one thing "As non of two person in the world look like each others, the same is applicable to investors portfolio" As time horizon, risk appetite and future cash flow adjustment differes from individual to individual.

Above is the example of concentrated and well diversified portfolio. You can make your own as per your investment goals.

Happy Investing!!!

Just click away from joining most active Mutual Fund India google group

Google Groups
Subscribe to Mutual Fund india
Email:
Visit this group

Aggrasive Portfolio

  • Principal Emerging Bluechip fund (Stock picker Fund) 11%
  • Reliance Growth Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 11%
  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock picker Fund) (STP) 11%
  • HDFC Equity Fund (Mid cap Fund) 11%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund) 8%
  • Fidelity Special Situation Fund (Stock picker Fund) 8%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Moderate Portfolio

  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 11%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Vision Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • IDFC Imperial Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Regular Saving Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 10%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 9%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 9%
  • ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan (Dynamic Fund) 9%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Conservative Portfolio

  • ICICI Prudential Index Fund (Index Fund) 16%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Reliance Regular Savings Fund - Balanced Option (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Principal Monthly Income Plan (MIP Fund) 16%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 8%
  • JM Arbitrage Advantage Fund (Arbitrage Fund) 16%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 14%

Best SIP Fund For 10 Years

  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Principal Emerging Bluechip Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund)
  • JM Emerging Leader Fund (Multicap Fund)
  • Reliance Regular Saving Scheme (Equity Stock Picker)
  • Biral Mid cap Fund (Mid cap Fund)
  • Fidility Special Situation Fund (Stock Picker)
  • DSP Gold Fund (Equity oriented Gold Sector Fund)