In January 2024, the momentum of equity mutual funds in India continued its upward surge, with inflows into open-ended equity funds reaching ₹21,780.56 crore, as revealed by data from the Association of Mutual Funds of India. Notably, sectoral/thematic and small-cap oriented funds emerged as the primary contributors, accounting for ₹4,804 crore and ₹3,256 crore, respectively.
A standout highlight from the latest data is the performance of Systematic Investment Plans, which hit a record high of ₹18,839 crore in January 2024. This surge reflects investors' growing interest and confidence in mutual fund investments, particularly in the equity segment.
Akhil Chaturvedi, the Chief Business Officer of Motilal Oswal AMO Asset Management Company, commented on the significant inflows, stating, "Equity schemes experienced a surge in inflows, reaching approximately ₹21,780 crore in Jan’24, compared to ₹16,997 crore in Dec’23." He also noted a substantial increase in the multi-cap category funds, which rose to ₹3,038 crore in January 2024 from around ₹1,852 crore in December 2023. Additionally, large-cap funds demonstrated positive contributions this month, reversing the net outflows experienced in December 2023, reported BT.
The shift in investment trends aligns with valuation differentials among large, mid, and small-cap stocks, indicating that large-cap/flexi-cap oriented schemes may continue to attract higher flows in the future. In the Hybrid category, there was a notable increase in inflows, with Mutual Fund Asset Management Companies (MAFs) witnessing an influx of ₹7,079 crore in January 2024, a significant jump from ₹2,420 crore in the previous month.
The robust performance of SIPs and the overall inflow into equity mutual funds signal a positive sentiment among investors, buoyed by improving market conditions and attractive investment opportunities. As investors continue to diversify their portfolios and seek long-term wealth creation, mutual funds remain a favored choice for many in the Indian investment landscape.