List of factor-based ETFs & index funds (smart beta) in India
This is a list of factor-based ETFs and index funds, also known as smart beta funds or strategic funds, available in India as of July 2020
Continue reading →Gold: 11% annualized return in 41 years, but there is a catch
On Jan 2nd 1979, Gold per troy ounce (about 31.1 grams) was Rs. 1792.85. On 24th July 2020, 41 years later (41.6 years technically), the price was Rs. 142343.67. That is a CAGR or an annualized return of 11.1%. There is however a catch though.
Continue reading →ICICI Prudential US Bluechip Equity Fund Review
We review the performance of ICICI Prudential US Bluechip Equity Fund to determine if it has managed to outperform the S &P 500 TRI index in INR. We ask if it makes sense to invest in an actively managed S&P 500 fund or choose the passive route with Motilal Oswal S&P500 index fund.
Continue reading →What are the new changes introduced in Form 26AS? Will they help?
Recently, the Income Tax Department introduced some key changes in Form 26AS. What used to be a simple tax credit statement available to every taxpayer is now a complete blueprint of your high-value financial transactions. What are the new changes in form 26AS? Will they help the taxpayer?
Continue reading →Why we need to invest as much as possible when our parents are independent!
Here is why we should invest both money and time as much as possible when our parents are young and able, else it may be too late to rectify. If you are under 35, that is a young earner, then this post is for you. If you are above that age, then you are likely…
Continue reading →What is Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) and what it is not
FIRE in personal finance is an acronym for “Financial Independence, Retire Early”. Stay long enough in any personal finance forum, and you would realize that there is a lot of confusion about what is FIRE and more importantly, what it is not! I requested SEBI registered fee-only investment advisor, S. R. Srinivasan (who has shared…
Continue reading →Arbitrage mutual fund returns reduce due to negative spreads
Those who argue that the stock market recovery is not to be trusted can use the Nifty 50 Arbitrage Index for support. The index that tracks the price difference between “buying equities and selling equivalent equity futures” has registered a fall over the last three months (13 weeks to be exact). Pointing to a drying…
Continue reading →Parag Parikh Long Term Equity Fund Review
This is a performance review of Parag Parikh Long Term Equity Fund. We shall look at its portfolio history and evaluate its trailing return performance (lump sum and SIP).
Continue reading →Four ELSS Funds that have consistently outperformed Nifty 200
Here are four ELSS funds that have consistently outperformed the NIfty 200 Total Return Index (dividends included) in terms of both returns and risk.
Continue reading →Are investors refusing to graduate beyond the basics?
Most investors wish to live in a certain “la la land” where they want a path that would lead to success. They want to hear what they want to and settle down with convenient truths. It is a refusal to graduate beyond the “basics” and confront cold reality. This means leaving the future of their…
Continue reading →Motilal Oswal Multi Asset Fund Review
Motilal Oswal AMC its new fund – Motilal Oswal Multi-Asset Fund – that on the face of it looks like an interesting, exciting idea (like every other NFO). Let us dig deeper to find out more about the investment strategy and who is the fund suitable for.
Continue reading →How should senior citizens invest in 2020
As interest rates fall, the economy in doldrums, equity markets uncertain, debt funds scary and the safety of at least some banks questionable, senior citizens are faced with a difficult problem: “where should I invest with protection and reasonable reward?” Sadly that this has been a recurring issue for the last decade or so and…
Continue reading →Midcap mutual funds struggle to beat this factor-based midcap index
A factor-based index is one in which parameters like volatility, momentum, alpha, ROE, PB, PE etc are used to construct the index instead of market capitalization. This is one way to reduce concentration risk in traditional indices like Nifty and Sensex. Midcap mutual funds have struggled to beat the NIFTY Midcap150 Quality 50 Index.
Continue reading →Do index fund returns depend upon just a few stocks (Concentration risk)?
Take the NIfty 50 index. It has 50 stocks and that sounds like a lot, but just ten of then make 62.7% of the total weight. In the case of the Sensex, it is 71.11%. Even in the case of the S&P 500 the top 10 accounts for 27.1% of the total weight (all nos…
Continue reading →Should I pay more tax if my fund’s equity holdings drop below 65%?
“I checked the monthly fact sheet of my equity mutual fund and found that the equity allocation was less than 65% of domestic equity shares. Does this it will be classified as a debt mutual fund and I have to pay more tax on it?”. A discussion.
Continue reading →