Motilal Oswal advice lump sum investments in stable large, hybrid, and flexi cap funds, while recommending staggered investing in volatile mid and small caps. Fixed income looks favorable amid RBIs supportive stance. Active funds show strong long-term compounding despite short-term dips.

Top large & mid-cap mutual funds were selected based on returns, consistency, and risk. Funds offer 15.4%-24.2% returns over three years, suitable for aggressive investors with a long-term horizon.

ETMutualFunds suggests SIP portfolios for moderate investors across three investment slabs, balancing equity and savings funds. Selections are based on returns, consistency, risk, and fund size over three years.

Franklin India Banking & PSU Debt Fund has completed 11 years, crossing Rs 500 crore in AUM. Launched in 2014, it invests mainly in high-quality debt from banks and PSUs. The fund has outperformed its benchmark over 1- and 3-year periods. A SIP since inception is now worth Rs 19.58 lakh, reflecting consistent compounding and low credit risk.

Unifi Flexi Cap Fund is an open-ended equity scheme with the flexibility to invest across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, following Unifis Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) investment approach.

Nifty 50 ETF is a low-cost, diversified, and hassle-free investment option ideal for beginners, millennials, and NRIs. It offers exposure to Indias top 50 companies, high liquidity, and minimal risk. With current market valuations attractive, it's a smart entry point for long-term investors seeking steady returns and simplicity.

63% of equity mutual funds gave negative returns in 2025 so far, with eight schemes losing over 10%. Samco Flexi Cap led the fall. ICICI Pru Large & Mid Cap Fund topped gainers with 7.7% return. Sectoral funds excluded.

Defence sector mutual funds have surged, delivering returns up to 60% in the last three months, fueled by strong earnings, government policy, and geopolitical factors. Experts caution against fresh investments due to stretched valuations, advising existing investors to consider profit booking. New investors should avoid lump-sum allocations and consider tactical SIPs only on corrections.

According to the Sebi mandate, short duration funds can invest in debt instruments which have maturity between one and three years. That means these schemes are meant for short-term investments of up to three years or more. They are somewhat in the middle when it comes to interest rate risk. They are riskier than liquid, ultra short term, and low duration funds. However, they have a lower risk compared to medium duration and long-term funds

Dar Credit and Capital is set to list on the NSE SME platform after its IPO was oversubscribed 106 times. The NBFC's Rs 26.46 crore IPO, priced at Rs 60 per share, saw strong investor interest, with grey market premium indicating a potential 26.7% gain on listing.

Salaried employees often receive annual salary increases effective in April. Financial planners advise aligning increased systematic investment plans (SIPs) with these raises and inflation. Investors can automatically increase SIPs by 5-10% annually or make decisions based on their salary hike and cash flow, potentially diversifying into debt, hybrid, or gold funds.

JioBlackRock, a joint venture between Mukesh Ambani's Jio Financial Services and BlackRock, is set to launch its mutual fund business in India. The company has received approval from Sebi. Sid Swaminathan of BlackRock has been appointed as managing director and chief executive. This marks BlackRock's re-entry into the Indian market after exiting in 2018.

Despite Sensex falling 625 points, five BSE500 stocks hit 52-week highs, signaling strong momentum. Top gainers include Bharat Dynamics, CCL Products, and Maharashtra Scooters with sharp monthly gains.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund crossed 1.5 lakh crore in AUM, coinciding with BSEs 150th anniversary. CEO Radhika Gupta highlighted the milestone and showcased tax-efficient mutual fund strategies. Edelweiss Multi Asset Allocation Fund led returns among fixed-income alternatives with 9.27% in one year.

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Three mutual fund categoriesPSU, energy, and infrastructureposted negative returns over the past year. Investors should prioritize risk appetite, goals, and time horizon over past performance when investing.

To build Rs 1 crore in 25 years, invest Rs 5,930 monthly at 12% returns. Early investing, compounding, risk tolerance, and asset allocation are key to achieving this financial goal.

Flexi cap mutual funds are typically recommended to moderate investors to create wealth over a long period of time.

Launched in April 2000, the Aditya Birla Sun Life Balanced Advantage Fund dynamically balances equity and debt to offer lower volatility and consistent returns. With a quality-biased portfolio, it has outperformed in both bull and bear markets.

Jio BlackRock Asset Management, a 50:50 JV between Jio Financial Services and BlackRock, has received SEBI approval to launch its mutual fund business in India. With a digital-first approach and global investment expertise, the firm aims to offer innovative, low-cost investment products, led by CEO Sid Swaminathan.

Info Edge announced a massive 667% jump in net profit for the March quarter. The profit reached Rs 463 crore. Revenue also increased by 14% to Rs 750 crore. The company's board proposed a final dividend of Rs 3.60 per share. This reflects strong financial performance compared to the previous year. The results indicate positive growth for the company.

Nilesh Jain, Head Vice President of Equity Research (Technical and Derivatives) at Centrum Broking, observed that market volatility has remained high over the last two to three sessions, with the India VIX climbing from about 15 to 19. He explained that this spike is largely due to a significant buildup of call writing positions, which is capping any short-covering attempts and establishing a firm resistance around the 25,000 mark.

Around 11 equity mutual funds have showcased impressive performance, delivering over 25% CAGR in the last five years, based on daily rolling returns. Small cap funds dominated the top spots, with Bandhan Small Cap Fund leading the pack at 35.17%. Rolling returns offer a comprehensive view of fund performance, aiding investors in assessing consistency across market cycles.

With stock market volatility, Edelweiss Mutual Fund highlights its Multi Asset Allocation Fund as a tax-efficient fixed income alternative. Radhika Gupta, CEO, emphasizes the fund's consistent returns and low risk, leveraging arbitrage across asset classes. The fund, along with arbitrage funds and precious metal ETFs, gains traction among risk-averse investors seeking better post-tax returns.

Brokerages are optimistic about select smallcap stocks. Trendlyne data suggests potential gains in stocks like DCB Bank and PVR INOX. Analysts project returns of up to 75% for some. Other stocks with strong ratings include Pitti Engineering and Mahanagar Gas. Target prices indicate significant upside potential. These recommendations are based on expert analysis.

Investment advisors believe that many conservative investors would not be able to go through turbulent phases. Investors can avoid this only if they time their entry and exit into long-term debt funds. Many investors would find it difficult to predict the interest rate movements and getting in and out of the schemes. That explains the advice to stick to short term funds.

With Nifty 50 rising nearly 13% from Aprils low to 25,001, experts advise mutual fund investorsespecially those with a long-term horizonto stay invested despite profit-booking temptations. They recommend reviewing asset allocation, rebalancing portfolios, continuing SIPs, and using staggered investments for lump-sum amounts to manage risks and capitalise on market growth.

Brainbees Solutions, FirstCrys parent firm, reported a Q4 net loss of Rs 111 crore, up from Rs 43 crore in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 16% YoY to Rs 1,930 crore. Despite quarterly setbacks, the company trimmed its annual loss and posted a 43% rise in adjusted EBITDA for the full FY25.

As equity valuations soar, risk-averse affluent investors are exploring tax-efficient alternatives beyond the stock market. Arbitrage funds, income plus arbitrage FoFs, multi-asset allocation, and precious metal funds are gaining popularity. These strategies offer compelling post-tax returns compared to traditional fixed income, while minimizing direct equity exposure, attracting tax-conscious capital allocation.

An investor with 1 crore corpus plans to stop SIPs and withdraw 50,000 monthly over 20 years. A mix of RBI bonds and equity MFs can help balance returns and stability.

As of April 30, 2025, large & mid cap funds held up to 9% in cash. Quant, DSP, Helios, Bandhan, and UTI funds led with the highest allocations, aiding flexibility for redemptions or investment opportunities.

After a 21% correction in the BSE 500 index, asset allocation funds showed resilience. Edelweiss and Parag Parikh schemes outperformed peers, proving effective downside cushioning during the six-month market slump and participating in the ongoing rebound.

Sanctum Wealths Shiv Gupta suggests hybrid funds, gold, and corporate bond strategies for short- to medium-term investments of up to Rs 10 lakh.

These funds have been shortlisted based on mean rolling returns, consistency in the last three years, downside risk, outperformance, and asset size

DSP Pension Fund led NPS returns at 21.45%, Kotak at 10.56%. Most others delivered 3.43%-9.27% returns, with SBI Pension Fund lowest at 3.43%. AUMs ranged from Rs 1,234 to 21,675 crore.