Mutual Funds : Overview and understanding

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets. A professional fund manager manages the fund, making investment decisions to achieve the fund's objectives, such as capital appreciation, income generation, or risk reduction.

How Mutual Funds Work

1. Pooling of Funds – Investors contribute money to the mutual fund.
2. Diversification – The fund invests in a range of assets (stocks, bonds, commodities, etc.) to reduce risk.
3. Professional Management – Fund managers make buy/sell decisions based on market analysis and research.
4. NAV (Net Asset Value) – The value of the fund's assets minus liabilities, divided by the number of units. Investors buy/sell units based on the NAV.

Types of Mutual Funds

1. Equity Funds

• Invest primarily in stocks.
• High return potential but higher risk.
• Types: Large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, sectoral, thematic funds.

2. Debt Funds

• Invest in fixed-income securities like bonds and government securities.
• Lower risk, suitable for stable returns.
• Types: Short-term, long-term, gilt, corporate bond funds.

3. Hybrid/Balanced Funds

• Invest in a mix of stocks and bonds.
• Moderate risk and balanced returns.
• Types: Aggressive hybrid, conservative hybrid funds.

4. Index Funds/ETFs

• Track a market index (e.g., Nifty 50).
• Passive investing, lower costs.
• Suitable for long-term market returns.

5. Money Market Funds

• Invest in short-term debt instruments (e.g., T-bills, commercial paper).
• Low risk, suitable for parking surplus funds.