The Economic Times

Sebi has eased certification rules for Specialized Investment Fund distributors. A new certification allows selling both mutual funds and SIFs. This new NISM Series V-D certification is now required for SIF distributors. Those holding this certification can distribute both product types. Existing mutual fund-only distributors retain their NISM Series V-A requirement.

Mutual fund unit transmission is now simpler for nominees and joint holders. Asset management companies will rely on the latest address with valid documents. A harmonised framework addresses name and signature mismatches effectively. Surviving joint holders or nominees submit a death certificate and bank details. The process is completed within five to fifteen working days.

Sebi has launched a unified certification for mutual fund and Specialised Investment Fund distributors, known as the NISM Series V-D certification. This new credential streamlines the eligibility criteria for selling these products.

Staying invested throughout market cycles yields the highest returns for investors. Missing just fifty strong trading days drastically reduces Nifty 50 returns to 0.89 percent. Missing thirty best trading days improved returns to 4.59 percent for the Nifty 50. Missing ten best trading days boosted Nifty 50 returns to 9.67 percent. Market timing requires two correct decisions, which is difficult for investors.

Largecap mutual funds' cash holdings fell to a one-year low of 2.2% in June, reflecting higher equity deployment and fund managers' confidence in select opportunities. Experts caution this is not a buy signal, advising investors to continue SIPs and focus on long-term goals, as lower cash may increase volatility during market corrections.

In this edition of Know Your Fund Manager, Satish Donadapati, Fund Manager ETF at Kotak AMC, shares his journey from an Army upbringing to managing passive funds. He discusses his career path, transition into portfolio management, and current responsibility of overseeing 19 ETFs and 23 Index Funds with a combined AUM of Rs 20,440 crore, while highlighting his investing philosophy.

Mutual funds bought select small-cap stocks in June, with Acme Solar Holdings, Craftsman Automation, Pine Labs, Sterlite Technologies and RBL Bank among the top picks, according to Dolat Capital.

Patanjali Foods, ICICI Prudential AMC, IREDA, NMDC and Oil India saw the highest net selling by mutual funds among midcap stocks in June, according to a Motilal Oswal Financial Services report.

Six AMCs saw their AUM rise by over Rs 7,000 crore in June, according to ACE MF data. SBI Mutual Fund led the pack with an increase of Rs 14,192 crore, followed by Aditya Birla Sun Life, HDFC, Invesco, Nippon India and HSBC Mutual Fund.

Mutual funds completely exited nearly 25 stocks in June, according to Prime Database. Rossell Techsys saw the largest sell-off at Rs 94.34 crore, followed by Wim Plast, Paramount Communications, GOCL Corporation and Veranda Learning Solutions.

HDFC Mutual Fund held top positions in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, RIL and Eternal in June. Check the fund houses top 10 stock holdings and portfolio changes.

Mutual funds bought five midcap stocks, including Lenskart, Meesho, JSW Infrastructure, NHPC and Ajanta Pharma, in June. These stocks witnessed net purchases worth over Rs 10,000 crore during the month.

Seven mutual funds, including SBI, HDFC, Kotak and Quant Mutual Fund, trimmed holdings in 21 small-cap stocks in June. Check the complete list of stocks where fund houses reduced exposure.

Eight equity mutual funds, including Axis Greater China Equity FoF, Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF and ICICI Pru Technology Fund, witnessed outflows exceeding Rs 220 crore in June

Samir Arora-backed Helios Mid Cap Fund added Groww parent Billionbrains Garage Ventures and four other stocks to its June portfolio, while raising exposure to Paytm and 29 other companies. The fund exited five stocks, trimmed its stake in Black Box and retained holdings in 32 stocks unchanged.

Sebi now permits demat mutual fund investors to set up standing instructions for systematic plans. This facility, previously for statement of account holders, will be phased in. Unit-based SWPs and STPs will be covered by January 2027. Amount-based plans will follow by April 2027. Amfi also simplified mutual fund unit transmission procedures after a unit holder's death.

Sebi has allowed SWP and STP standing instructions for mutual fund units held in demat form, simplifying investing. The rollout will occur in two phases, with unit-based transactions by January 2027 and amount-based transactions by April 2027 through depositories.

Fresh SIP options in international mutual funds have narrowed sharply, with only Baroda BNP Paribas Aqua FoF accepting new investments after multiple fund houses halted inflows due to SEBIs overseas investment limits. Investors are exploring LRS, GIFT City and global ETFs as alternatives.

AMFI has simplified mutual fund transmission procedures for deceased unit holders. New measures consider address and name mismatches for smoother claims. Asset Management Companies will now rely on updated address details supported by documentation. A harmonized framework for name and signature discrepancies is also introduced. These updated guidelines are effective immediately for all member AMCs.

Mutual funds increased exposure to private banks, healthcare, NBFCs, automobiles and real estate in June, while trimming allocations to technology, oil & gas and utilities, according to a Motilal Oswal report.

ICICI Prudential Flexicap Fund turned a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into Rs 8.47 lakh over five years ending June 30, 2026, delivering an XIRR of 13.83% on a total investment of Rs 6 lakh. During the same period, the BSE 500 TRI generated an XIRR of 10.43%. The fund also reported strong three-year and one-year SIP returns.