MUMBAI: The strong demand for small-cap and mid-cap funds buoyed open-ended equity mutual fund inflows by 3.03 per cent to Rs 38,239 crore in August, pushing industry-wide assets under management past the Rs 66.70-trillion mark, up from Rs 64.96 trillion in the previous month.
During the reporting month, the Nifty 50 rose 1.14 per cent, while the benchmark Sensex edged up by 0.76 per cent.
Despite the tepid performance by the equity markets, inflows surged, boosted by large-cap funds, which netted Rs 2,636.86 crore in August — a jump of 293 per cent over July. This was coupled with a 52 per cent rise in inflows into small-cap funds at Rs 3,209.33 crore and an 86 per cent surge in net investments into mid-cap funds at Rs 3,054.68 crore, according to the latest data released by the industry lobby, the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI), on Tuesday.
The rally in large-cap funds, which soared by 293 per cent on a monthly basis, netted Rs 2,636.86 crore in August.
AMFI said that the strong demand for small-cap and mid-cap funds ensured inflows into open-ended equity funds remained positive for the 42nd consecutive month.
Investments via systematic investment plans (SIPs) continued to set fresh highs, as monthly inflows reached Rs 23,547 crore in August, up from Rs 23,332 crore in the previous month.
The rise in equity inflows during the month came despite tepid equity markets. During the month, the Nifty 50 gained 1.14 per cent, while the Sensex inched up by 0.76 per cent.
Nevertheless, inflows into small-cap funds jumped 52 per cent to Rs 3,209.33 crore. Furthermore, net investments into mid-cap funds surged by 86 per cent to Rs 3,054.68 crore, while large-cap funds netted Rs 2,636.86 crore in August, a jump of 293 per cent over the previous month. On the other hand, inflows into multi-cap funds, which invest across large-cap, small-cap, and mid-cap stocks, slumped by 65 per cent to Rs 2,475.06 crore.
Inflows into thematic/sectoral funds remained robust at Rs 18,117.18 crore in August, fuelled by new fund offers, as five new funds in the category collected Rs 10,202 crore during the month.
In the fixed-income category, debt mutual funds saw net inflows of Rs 45,169.36 crore in August, which is not even half of the July netting of Rs 1,19,588 crore.
Ultra-short duration funds saw a 92 per cent dip in inflows at Rs 695.62 crore, while outflows in banking and PSU funds rose to Rs 1,549.99 crore. Short-duration liquid funds also saw an 81 per cent slump in inflows at Rs 13,594.87 crore. On the other hand, overnight funds saw a 239 per cent jump in inflows at Rs 15,105.93 crore, while Gilt funds saw a 51 per cent rise in inflows at Rs 1,902.09 crore.
Inflows into hybrid funds, which invest in more than one asset class, slumped by 43 per cent to Rs 10,005.30 crore in August. Flows were restricted by a 78 per cent slump in arbitrage funds at Rs 2,372.13 crore. Additionally, the multi-asset allocation fund category saw a 10 per cent dip in inflows to Rs 2,826.89 crore. The conservative hybrid fund saw small outflows to the tune of Rs 186.84 crore.
On the other hand, dynamic asset allocation/balanced advantage funds saw a 79 per cent rise in inflows to Rs 3,215.06 crore.
Among passive funds, index funds saw a 60 per cent dip in net inflows to Rs 3,247.24 crore. However, gold exchange-traded funds saw net inflows of Rs 1,611.38 crore, a jump of 20 per cent over the previous month.
Meanwhile, the fund of funds investing overseas category saw net outflows of Rs 352.83 crore during the month. Overall, open-ended mutual funds saw net inflows of Rs 1,08,240.95 crore.
According to Manish Mehta of Kotak Mahindra AMC, “Net flows continue to remain encouraging with inflows into SIPs and NFOs. Sectoral/thematic funds saw strong inflows due to NFOs, which seem to be the preferred route for investors to take a lumpsum allocation to mutual funds since schemes have the flexibility to invest over a stipulated time period.”