The mutual fund industry experienced a substantial inflow of funds through new fund offers (NFOs) in June, with 11 NFOs across various fund houses collectively garnering Rs 14,370 crore.
This marks a record high, surpassing the previous peak of Rs 13,709 crore set in July 2021 by four NFOs.
The first half of 2024 has seen impressive activity in the launch of mutual fund schemes, with 30 active equity schemes introduced so far.
This contrasts with the 51 active equity schemes launched throughout the entirety of 2023.
The industry has already attracted Rs 37,885 crore through NFOs from January to June 2024, exceeding the Rs 36,657 crore collected in the whole of 2023.
In 2022, 27 NFOs drew in a total investment of Rs 29,586 crore.
Market Rally Post-Election:
The ongoing rally in the Indian stock market, fueled by the results of the Lok Sabha elections, has encouraged numerous mutual fund houses to introduce new NFOs.
Meanwhile, as of now, approximately seven active and passive equity NFOs are open for subscription.
Notable active NFOs include ICICI Prudential MF’s Energy Opportunities Fund, Franklin Templeton MF’s Multicap NFO, and Edelweiss MF’s Business Cycle Fund.
Increased Risk In NFO Categories:
A significant portion of these NFOs fall into high-risk categories such as thematic funds.
Expressing his concerns on social media, Neil Parekh, CEO and Chairman of Parag Parekh Financial Advisory Services Limited (PPFAS), remarked, “The number of new NFOs, especially thematic funds, has increased. This is quite alarming. Everyone needs to be cautious.”
Investment in the mutual fund industry has been on a steady rise. In June, the industry recorded inflows of Rs 40,608 crore, compared to Rs 34,697 crore in May, which included Rs 9,563 crore from NFOs.
Strong Market Performance:
The Indian stock market has performed robustly in 2024, with both the Sensex and Nifty indices delivering returns exceeding 10% to investors.
This strong performance has likely contributed to the heightened interest and investment in mutual fund NFOs.
Overall, the mutual fund industry is witnessing a significant surge in new fund offers and investments, driven by a bullish stock market and a proactive launch strategy by fund houses.
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