Thursday, August 14, 2008

Private PFs don't invest even 5% in equities

The finance ministry’s proposal to allow private provident funds (PFs), superannuation funds and gratuity funds a greater exposure to equity and market-linked instruments has been cheered on by market participants. However, the ground reality is completely different. 

Interestingly, very few of the funds allowed to invest in equities have even utilised their cap of 5%. According to various industry experts, even those funds, which do invest in equities, have an exposure of only 1-2%. Further, with the recent spike in bond yields, government securities as well as corporate bonds have been giving returns of over 9%. This is well above the returns of 8.5% which these funds are supposed to guarantee. 

In a proposal made in September last year, the finance ministry had suggested a greater exposure for these funds, which manage the savings of employees of various corporates. It was mandated that these funds double their capital market exposure from 5% to 10% while reducing their exposure to government securities from 40% to 35%. A number of other changes in the investment pattern, including more exposure to money-market mutual funds and bonds or securities of PSU companies. 

While market participants have welcomed this proposal, the general perception is that a number of other regulations need to change to make equity investments viable. The main bone of contention is that of the guaranteed returns of 8.5%. In case the fund fails to throw up an 8.5% return, the employers are expected to provide for the rest. 

“The fact that these funds have to guarantee fixed returns while investing in instruments with variable returns did not find flavour with them,” said Amit Gopal, vice-president, India Life Capital, which manages funds for over 150 companies. 

Whether these funds will actually take to the proposed relaxation in exposure norms remains to be seen. “It is highly unlikely that private provident funds or superannuation funds would actually take advantage of the relaxation in investment pattern, if and when it happens. 

The basic risk appetite of these funds is completely different, even the bonds they invest in are top class bonds,” said a fund manager. In spite of having the expertise of huge treasury departments, banks and insurance companies that manage private provident funds have not invested heavily in the capital market, he added. At the moment, PF returns have been above the 8.5%-mark. Investments done in 2007-08, in particular, have given returns of over 9% while those of 30-year old trusts, which have been managed effectively, have consistently given returns of 8.5-8.8%.

Reliance MF buys engg & cap goods, banking, oil

Reliance Mutual Fund has enhanced its exposure to the engineering & capital goods, banking & financial services, oil & gas and utilities sector. However, it cut its holdings in the information technology, metals & mining and automotive pack. 

Unitech, BGR Energy Systems and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the top buys while Escorts, Dabur Pharma and Emco were the top sells.

A study of the equity portfolios managed by Reliance Mutual Fund as on July 31 shows that in the engineering & capital goods pack, BGR Energy Systems, Thermax, Alstom Projects and ABB topped the list of buys while Crompton Greaves, Suzlon Energy and Siemens topped the list of sells.(View - All Bulk Deals by Mutual Funds)

In the banking & financial services, the fund house purchased Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC and HDFC Bank while decreased its holding in Rural Electrification, ICICI Bank and HDFC.

In the oil & gas pack, Cairn India and ONGC were in the list of top buys whereas Reliance Industries and Shiv Vani Oil & Gas were in the list of top sells.(Check out - Which sectors are attracting Fund Managers?)  

In the utilities space, Torrent Power, Tata Power Company and NTPC topped the list of sells.

Reliance Mutual Fund slashed its exposure to information technology, metals & mining and automotive stocks. In the information technology pack, HCL Technologies, Infosys Technologies and Patni Computer Systems were in the list of top sells while Satyam Computer Services and Tata Consultancy Services were in the list of top buys.

In the metals & mining pack, SAIL, Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries and Jindal Stainless topped the list of sells. Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors and Escorts were in the list of top sells in the auto space.

Templeton MF bets on banking, oil, cap goods

Templeton Mutual Fund has increased its holding in the banking & financial services, oil & gas and engineering & capital goods sectors. However, the fund house has reduced its exposure to information technology, metals & mining and chemicals sectors.

A study of the equity portfolios managed by the Templeton Mutual Fund as on July 31 shows that in the banking & financial services space, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank and ING Vysya Bank topped the list of buys while Yes Bank, India Infoline and Kotak Mahindra Bank topped the list of sells. Bank of India, LIC Housing Finance, Reliance Capital and Bajaj Holdings were newly introduced stocks.

Among the oil & gas stocks, HPCL, BPCL and Cairn India were top buys while Reliance Industries was top sold stock. It has made fresh investment in Indian Oil Corporation. (View - All Bulk Deals by Mutual Funds)

In the engineering & capital goods sector, Cummins India, ABB, Thermax topped the list of buys while Larsen and Toubro, Greaves Cotton and Suzlon Energy topped the list of sells. The fund house has exited Gremach Infrastructure and Shanthi Gears.

Templeton Mutual Fund slashed its exposure to information technology, metals & mining and chemicals. In the information technology pack, TCS and Infosys Technologies were in the list of top sells. It has exited Redington (India). (Check out - Which sectors are attracting Fund Managers?)  

In the metal & mining space, Tata Steel, Sterlite Industries (India) and Sesa Goa were top sells. 

In the chemical sector, it has sold over 26.55 lakh shares of Reliance Petroleum and over 14 lakh shares of Tata Chemicals.

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Aggrasive Portfolio

  • Principal Emerging Bluechip fund (Stock picker Fund) 11%
  • Reliance Growth Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 11%
  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock picker Fund) (STP) 11%
  • HDFC Equity Fund (Mid cap Fund) 11%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund) 8%
  • Fidelity Special Situation Fund (Stock picker Fund) 8%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Moderate Portfolio

  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 11%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Vision Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • IDFC Imperial Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Regular Saving Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 10%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 9%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 9%
  • ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan (Dynamic Fund) 9%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Conservative Portfolio

  • ICICI Prudential Index Fund (Index Fund) 16%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Reliance Regular Savings Fund - Balanced Option (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Principal Monthly Income Plan (MIP Fund) 16%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 8%
  • JM Arbitrage Advantage Fund (Arbitrage Fund) 16%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 14%

Best SIP Fund For 10 Years

  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Principal Emerging Bluechip Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund)
  • JM Emerging Leader Fund (Multicap Fund)
  • Reliance Regular Saving Scheme (Equity Stock Picker)
  • Biral Mid cap Fund (Mid cap Fund)
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