Dear Investors,
Continuing with the trend in 2018, the markets started the new year on a volatile note ahead of some major events lined up this year, including the upcoming general elections. The factors that might have an impact on the market movement do not change overnight and hence we will continue seeing volatility. However with time, the impact of these short term factors smoothen out, and the impact of short term volatility is negligible in the longer run.
The mutual fund industry has been growing at a healthy pace as compared to other segments of the financial industry. We believe this pace will accelerate in the coming years as individuals start to look at alternative opportunities to invest their savings and begin to change their savings habits. This is a natural trend which we believe will accelerate in the coming years.
Thus, the idea that banking products can be supplemented with our products. For instance, you have the option to park short term money in Liquid Funds instead of traditional savings account. Liquid Funds can help you earn potentially higher returns on the money lying idle in your account and at the same time offer easy liquidity.
Likewise, an investment alternative for fixed deposits can be Fixed Maturity Plans (FMPs), which are close-ended debt schemes. FMPs work on a similar concept to fixed deposits, wherein the tenure is fixed and can range from a few months to a few years. These funds lock-in prevailing interest rates and protect your investment from future interest rate fluctuations. FMPs additionally offer tax-efficient returns when compared to fixed deposits, as they provide the benefit of indexation if you invest in an FMP with a tenure of more than 3 years.
Similar to a recurring deposit, Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in mutual funds is a facility that enables you to invest in a disciplined manner without worrying about timing the market. Some of the major benefits of SIP are – Rupee Cost Averaging and Power of Compounding.
Lastly, when it comes to tax saving, individuals have preferred options such as Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) which allows tax deduction up to Rs. 1,50,000 under section 80 C. Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS), offered by mutual funds, also fall in the same category in terms of availing tax deduction under section 80 C. Additionally, since the investments are predominantly made in equities, they offer the opportunity to create potential wealth in the long term, while you also save on tax.
To know more about mutual fund products and services you can contact your nearest SBI Mutual Fund branch or distributor. Alternatively, you can reach us through our Contact Centre on 1800 425 5425 or visit sbimf.com or download SBI MF InvesTap.
Warm regards,
Ashwani Bhatia
Managing Director & CEO
