Types of Mutual Funds in India
There are various types of mutual funds available for
investment, but the majority of mutual funds fall into one of four broad
categories: stock funds, money market funds, bond funds, and target-date funds.
Mutual funds can also be classified based on their
characteristics. Typical characteristics for classification are:
- Asset Class: In this classification, the nature of assets in which the mutual fund investments are made determines the type of mutual fund. For example, funds that invest largely in company equity are known as Equity funds.
- Investment Goals: This classification bifurcates funds based on investment goals, for example Growth funds, Income funds, Liquid funds, Tax-saving funds, and so on.
- Risk category: The funds are classified by amount of risk to the investor, for example Very Low-risk funds, Low Risk funds, Medium Risk funds, High Risk funds. In the risk classification, equity funds are classified as high-risk funds.
- Specialized Mutual Funds: The funds are classified based on the special characteristics of the companies in which the investment is made, such as Sector funds (which invest in one specific sector, say IT, Pharma, etc.), Index funds (which invest in specific indexes on the stock market), emerging market funds, and so on.
For individual investment purposes, the most useful
classification is that based on asset class.
Types of Mutual Funds based on Asset Class
Equity Funds: These are funds that invest in company
equity and shares. These funds are regarded as high-risk but frequently offer
substantial returns. Specialty funds for equity investments can be available in
the banking, fast-moving consumer goods, and infrastructure sectors, to mention
a few. They are linked with the markets and frequently
Debt Funds: These are funds that invest in fixed
income assets like government bonds, corporate debentures, and other debt
instruments. They offer fixed returns and are considered as safe investments.
These funds do not withhold taxes from investors' earnings at source, thus if
those earnings reach ₹ 10,000, the investor is liable for paying the tax
bill.
Money Market Funds: These are funds that invest in
short-term securities like T-Bills and CPs. They are regarded as secure
investments for people seeking quick but modest returns on spare cash. Cash markets are another name for money markets, and they carry credit,
reinvestment, and interest risks.
Balanced or Hybrid Funds: These funds invest across a
variety of asset classes. In some situations, the ratio of equity to debt is
higher than in others, and vice versa. This establishes a balance between risk
and reward. Franklin India Balanced Vehicle-DP (G), for instance, invests 65%
to 80% of its holdings in equities and the balance 20% to 35% in the debt
market, making it a hybrid fund. This is true because the risk on the debt
markets is lower than on the equity markets.
No matter how little, mutual funds always involve a level of risk, thus it is crucial that investors thoroughly study their policy documents before making an investment. Reading the contract would also be good idea to make sure that the investors have a clear understanding of what they have purchased and all the facilities that come with it.
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Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
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