Thursday, September 2, 2010

MFs' AUM jumps as equity funds put up better show

The Indian mutual fund (MF) industry witnessed an increase of 3.3% in its average assets under management (AAUM) to around Rs 6.87-lakh crore by the end of August ’10, from Rs 6.65-lakh crore in July ’10.

In fact, this rise in the AAUM of the industry is amidst concerns of a fall in valuations of the liquid plus (ultra short-term) category of schemes; post-Sebi diktat on new valuation norms for these schemes that came into effect last month.

Market

With new valuation norms requiring ultra short-term plans to value their debt securities with a maturity of more than 91 days to be marked-to-market, there were considerable concerns over the rise in volatility and valuations of these schemes by corporate houses that invest into these schemes.


However, a month down the line, ultra short-term plans have reported an average increase of around 0.43% in their net asset values (NAV) for August ’10, regaining the corporates’ confidence on these schemes.


As such, despite the new valuation norms having hit the floors, many fund managers have begun to realign their portfolios, incorporating debt with less than a 91-day maturity in their ultra short-term plans, in order to tone down the concerns of prospective rise in volatility in the returns of these schemes.

Thus, many prominent debt-dominated fund houses have witnessed a healthy rise in their AAUM for the month. These include Axis, Baroda Pioneer, JM Financial, JP Morgan, L&T and Peerless which have reported a double-digit rise in AAUM.


On the equity front, while most fund houses, dominated by equity assets, have shown an increase in their asset base, the rise can be mainly attributed to an increase in the valuation of equity assets held by these schemes over last month.

While the Sensex and the Nifty have returned around 2% gains over the past one month, the category of diversified equity schemes has clocked in an average of around 3.4% returns for this period.

With the market having gained significantly over the past month, most diversified equity schemes are currently commanding NAVs, almost nearing their 52-week highs. In fact, this marked improvement in the performance of equity mutual fund schemes can be used as a catalyst by fund houses to bring back their lost as well as prospective investors.


As far the AAUM race amongst fund houses is concerned, while Reliance, HDFC and ICICI continue to rule over as the top three fund houses in the country, Birla Sun Life has moved a notch up to bag the fourth position, pushing UTI to number five. Similarly, Franklin Templeton has moved up to grab the sixth position, pushing down SBI Asset Management to a seventh place. Again, DSP Blackrock has also moved a notch up to bag the ninth position pushing LIC down to number 10.

MFs' AUM jumps as equity funds put up better show

The Indian mutual fund (MF) industry witnessed an increase of 3.3% in its average assets under management (AAUM) to around Rs 6.87-lakh crore by the end of August ’10, from Rs 6.65-lakh crore in July ’10.

In fact, this rise in the AAUM of the industry is amidst concerns of a fall in valuations of the liquid plus (ultra short-term) category of schemes; post-Sebi diktat on new valuation norms for these schemes that came into effect last month.

Market

With new valuation norms requiring ultra short-term plans to value their debt securities with a maturity of more than 91 days to be marked-to-market, there were considerable concerns over the rise in volatility and valuations of these schemes by corporate houses that invest into these schemes.


However, a month down the line, ultra short-term plans have reported an average increase of around 0.43% in their net asset values (NAV) for August ’10, regaining the corporates’ confidence on these schemes.


As such, despite the new valuation norms having hit the floors, many fund managers have begun to realign their portfolios, incorporating debt with less than a 91-day maturity in their ultra short-term plans, in order to tone down the concerns of prospective rise in volatility in the returns of these schemes.

Thus, many prominent debt-dominated fund houses have witnessed a healthy rise in their AAUM for the month. These include Axis, Baroda Pioneer, JM Financial, JP Morgan, L&T and Peerless which have reported a double-digit rise in AAUM.


On the equity front, while most fund houses, dominated by equity assets, have shown an increase in their asset base, the rise can be mainly attributed to an increase in the valuation of equity assets held by these schemes over last month.

While the Sensex and the Nifty have returned around 2% gains over the past one month, the category of diversified equity schemes has clocked in an average of around 3.4% returns for this period.

With the market having gained significantly over the past month, most diversified equity schemes are currently commanding NAVs, almost nearing their 52-week highs. In fact, this marked improvement in the performance of equity mutual fund schemes can be used as a catalyst by fund houses to bring back their lost as well as prospective investors.


As far the AAUM race amongst fund houses is concerned, while Reliance, HDFC and ICICI continue to rule over as the top three fund houses in the country, Birla Sun Life has moved a notch up to bag the fourth position, pushing UTI to number five. Similarly, Franklin Templeton has moved up to grab the sixth position, pushing down SBI Asset Management to a seventh place. Again, DSP Blackrock has also moved a notch up to bag the ninth position pushing LIC down to number 10.

Serena undergoes surgery to avoid toe trouble

New York: Serena Williams has revealed that she underwent surgery to repair a lacerated tendon near her big toe to avoid a lifetime with a "droopy" digit.
The world number one is missing from the US Open as she recovers.
Williams told USA Today in Thursday editions that she still does not know how she cut her toe while in a Munich restaurant shortly after winning Wimbledon, but the injury apparently came from broken glass on the floor.
Williams complained that the tendon problem was causing her big toe to "droop".
"I saw a specialist in New York and had an MRI, and he said I had a tendon that was torn. He said I didn't necessarily have to fix it, but I'd have a droopy toe the rest of my life," she said. "I thought it over and decided it was better to have the surgical procedure, for my career and for my life."
Williams opted to miss the Open while she undergoes physical therapy.
The American said that she felt pain "like a stubbed toe" as she was walking out of the restaurant, then saw a pool of blood by her toe when she investigated further.
The player said she required 18 stitches, then went on to Brussels to play an exhibition game against Kim Clijsters with help from a pain-killing injection.
Williams said she has taken no notice of media speculation as to the nature of the injury.
"It's unfortunate I had to have surgery, but I'm not lying or denying, because it is what it is," she said.
She did not say when she might return to tennis, after playing in only six events this season and winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Serena undergoes surgery to avoid toe trouble

New York: Serena Williams has revealed that she underwent surgery to repair a lacerated tendon near her big toe to avoid a lifetime with a "droopy" digit.
The world number one is missing from the US Open as she recovers.
Williams told USA Today in Thursday editions that she still does not know how she cut her toe while in a Munich restaurant shortly after winning Wimbledon, but the injury apparently came from broken glass on the floor.
Williams complained that the tendon problem was causing her big toe to "droop".
"I saw a specialist in New York and had an MRI, and he said I had a tendon that was torn. He said I didn't necessarily have to fix it, but I'd have a droopy toe the rest of my life," she said. "I thought it over and decided it was better to have the surgical procedure, for my career and for my life."
Williams opted to miss the Open while she undergoes physical therapy.
The American said that she felt pain "like a stubbed toe" as she was walking out of the restaurant, then saw a pool of blood by her toe when she investigated further.
The player said she required 18 stitches, then went on to Brussels to play an exhibition game against Kim Clijsters with help from a pain-killing injection.
Williams said she has taken no notice of media speculation as to the nature of the injury.
"It's unfortunate I had to have surgery, but I'm not lying or denying, because it is what it is," she said.
She did not say when she might return to tennis, after playing in only six events this season and winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Clock is ticking for remaining abducted cops

Patna: Rajni Yadav - wife of Abhay Yadav, a jawan of the Bihar Military Police - pleaded with the government to step in and save her husband from the Naxals.
His daughter's heartrending plea and prayers, too, failed to move the Naxals of Bihar. Sub-inspector Yadav, who was taken hostage along with three others, was reportedly killed. His body was thrown near the Piri Bazaar railway tracks.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said: "We are ready for talks. Whoever wants to come for talks can come. There is no use making a hue and cry outside my house. I am also helpless."
Yadav, Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Lokus Tete were taken hostage on Sunday after an encounter in the forests of Lakhisarai. Seven other policemen were killed during the encounter and 11 others were injured.
Naxals demanded that their arrested commanders be set free and they be given a safe passage in return for the hostages. A deadline of 4 pm on Wednesday was set after which they threatened to kill the hostages.
Reports quoting a Maoist spokesperson suggested Yadav was killed as the government failed to negotiate even six hours after the deadline ended. A 'jan adalat' was called in the Lakhi Sarai forests and the decision to kill Yadav was taken.
The Naxals then set a fresh deadline of 10 am on Friday for the other three hostages.
Pyari Tete, Lokus's wife, said: "My only son has already died. I have three daughters. How will I feed them? He (Lokus) is the only earning member of my family."
Shafiq Ehsaan, brother of Mohammad Ehsaan, said: "There is no communication from the administration. We got all information only through the media. We don't know where he is. Till now we have no information."
The killing of Yadav has narrowed the choice before the state government. It's either to go all-out offensive or budge under Naxals pressure. The government has clearly chosen the aggressive path and in process endangered the lives of three other abducted cops.


Clock is ticking for remaining abducted cops

Patna: Rajni Yadav - wife of Abhay Yadav, a jawan of the Bihar Military Police - pleaded with the government to step in and save her husband from the Naxals.
His daughter's heartrending plea and prayers, too, failed to move the Naxals of Bihar. Sub-inspector Yadav, who was taken hostage along with three others, was reportedly killed. His body was thrown near the Piri Bazaar railway tracks.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said: "We are ready for talks. Whoever wants to come for talks can come. There is no use making a hue and cry outside my house. I am also helpless."
Yadav, Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Lokus Tete were taken hostage on Sunday after an encounter in the forests of Lakhisarai. Seven other policemen were killed during the encounter and 11 others were injured.
Naxals demanded that their arrested commanders be set free and they be given a safe passage in return for the hostages. A deadline of 4 pm on Wednesday was set after which they threatened to kill the hostages.
Reports quoting a Maoist spokesperson suggested Yadav was killed as the government failed to negotiate even six hours after the deadline ended. A 'jan adalat' was called in the Lakhi Sarai forests and the decision to kill Yadav was taken.
The Naxals then set a fresh deadline of 10 am on Friday for the other three hostages.
Pyari Tete, Lokus's wife, said: "My only son has already died. I have three daughters. How will I feed them? He (Lokus) is the only earning member of my family."
Shafiq Ehsaan, brother of Mohammad Ehsaan, said: "There is no communication from the administration. We got all information only through the media. We don't know where he is. Till now we have no information."
The killing of Yadav has narrowed the choice before the state government. It's either to go all-out offensive or budge under Naxals pressure. The government has clearly chosen the aggressive path and in process endangered the lives of three other abducted cops.


Match Fixing: Tainted Pak trio dropped

Taunton, England: The three Pakistan cricketers at the center of fixing allegations were dropped for the rest of the team's England tour on Thursday, shortly before they appeared for questioning by investigators of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Team manager Yawar Saeed said bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and test captain Salman Butt will not play in the remaining Twenty20 and one-day international matches. He insisted they had not been suspended.
Saeed said that 13 players will be available for the two Twenty20 matches before three replacements arrive to bolster the squad for the five-match one-day series.
"The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, i.e. 13 people," Saeed said in Taunton, where Pakistan was playing a warmup game against English county side Somerset. "When we play the one-day internationals, we will be asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16."
Saeed, who had earlier said the trio would continue playing unless police laid criminal charges against them, did not say who the replacements would be.
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the decision by Pakistan not to include the three players in its limited-overs squads.
"We can assure cricket fans across the country that the matches will be played in the most competitive spirit long associated with contests between England and Pakistan," EBC chairman Giles Clarke said.
Asif, Amir and Butt were at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Thursday for questioning by a Pakistan Cricket Board investigation.
Butt, Asif and Aamer had to be given a police escort as they entered the building in Knightsbridge. About 10 police officers guided the trio into the building amid a throng of reporters and TV crews.
All three refused to answer questions after arriving in a car with blacked out windows.
British newspaper the News of the World alleged on Sunday that Amir and Asif were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls in the opening day of the fourth Test against England at Lord's last week.
Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were also implicated in the story.
Asif, Amir and Butt had their mobile phones confiscated by police, who also searched hotel rooms and questioned players on Saturday as part of an investigation also involving the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
Shahid Afridi is leading the team in its limited-overs matches, starting with a game against Somerset.
"Obviously, if they have done something bad, you need to give them a punishment," Afridi said. "But I think we are still waiting for the results.
"It will be a really tough series and I think everyone is trying to focus on the cricket now. We are ready to play some good cricket."
The spot-fixing allegations are the latest blow to cricket in Pakistan, which has not hosted any international matches since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team and match officials in March 2009.
Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, said he hoped the incident did not slow Pakistan's reintegration into world cricket.
"I look forward to working with Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the PCB, and everybody involved in Pakistan cricket in taking forward cricket in Pakistan so that a plan exists for the whole of Pakistan cricket, given all the many and varied issues which it's up against," Clarke added.
Clarke said last month that plans were being made for an ICC World XI to play a match in Pakistan.

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