We never bother with the above precautionary statement, blurted out in fast-forward mode at the beginning and end of every communication emanating from various asset management companies (AMCs).
For most retail investors going alone in the surging equity markets, friends, associates and tele-channels, proved to be the first and last advice centres. And as the markets were running faster than a doped athlete (with mutual fund houses offering returns as high as 100%), investors threw caution to the winds.
But what goes up, comes down. Struck by incessant market volatility presently, mutual funds are no more the safe haven that they once were. Returns have fallen worse than a pack of cards over the last few months, and people like Anand are learning their lessons the hard way.
There are funds that have delivered an annual return of close to 50%. Reliance Diversified Power Sector Retail, the best in the country, has returned 49.82%, where as Taurus Libra TaxShield and DWS Investment Opportunity fund has given 42.52% and 40.34% returns respectively, to become the second and third best funds in the country.
On the other hand, UTI Growth Sector Fund-Software has left investors gasping for breath by giving a negative return of 23.43%. No doubt, it will go down in history as the worst fund between June 07’ to May 08’; this is closely followed by Kotak Tech Fund that gave an annual negative return of 22.15%.
