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Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
SBI FDs offer up to 6% returns in short term. Should investors explore debt mutual funds instead?
State Bank of India cuts fixed deposit rates. Experts suggest debt mutual funds may offer better post-tax returns. With SBI, the largest public sector lender, reducing interest rate on certain short-term tenure fixed deposits by 15 basis points for three tenures, mutual fund experts mentions that followed by the recent repo rate cut by the central bank, many banks are cutting their FD interest rates, making traditional FDs less attractive and short term debt mutual funds such as liquid funds and overnight funds may give better post-tax returns. 'Liquid funds and overnight funds may well give better post-tax returns to especially those at higher tax brackets while offering similar liquidity. Those in the 20%+ tax bracket could opt for hybrid Arbitrage funds for better taxation. Please also note that interest on FDs is taxable even on an accrual basis, whereas in case of mutual funds it is only when redeemed,' Rajesh Minocha, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Founder of Financial Radiance shared with ETMutualFunds. Also Read | Explained: What is loan against mutual funds, and how do they work? Another expert recommends best suited funds for investors with an investment horizon of up to six months and for the ones with an investment horizon of more than six months.'Investors looking for short-term parking options may consider alternatives like ultra-short duration funds for periods up to 6 months, as they offer potentially better post-tax returns. For investment horizons above 6 months, arbitrage funds can be a more efficient option. They carry similar risk profiles to debt funds but may deliver slightly better returns,' Hrishikesh Palve, Director at Anand Rathi Wealth Limited told ETMutualFunds. SBI has reduced the FD rates by 15 basis points for three short-term tenures. The bank has reduced the interest rate for the tenure of 46 days to 179 days from 5.05% to 4.90% for general citizens. The FD interest rate for tenure between 180 days and 210 days has been reduced from 5.80% to 5.65%. For the tenure of 211 days to less than 1 year, the bank has lowered the rate from 6.05% to 5.90% for general citizens. These new interest rates are effective from July 15. In case of senior citizens, the FD rates have been reduced by 15 bps as well for the same to a report by ETWealth, After revision, the bank is offering FD interest rate between 3.05% and 6.45% (excluding Amrit Vrishti rates) for general citizens. The interest rate is applicable FD tenure ranging between 7 days and 10 years. For senior citizens, the bank offers FD interest rate between 3.55% and 7.05% (including SBI WeCare) for the same tenure. Coming to the comparison between fixed deposits and debt mutual funds, fixed deposits are considered low risk investments as they offer a guaranteed return for the predetermined period whereas debt mutual funds have a slightly higher risk associated with them because of the interest rate movement. The second point of difference comes on the taxation part. The investment in tax-saving fixed deposits is exempted under Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act whereas for the debt mutual funds there is no such exemption. But both fixed deposits and debt mutual funds are classified under the same asset SBI slashed rates and experts recommended debt mutual funds as an option for short-term goals, investors are wondering that how does the tax efficiency of short-term debt funds compare to these FDs for someone in the higher tax bracket, to which Minocha replies that though the indexation benefit is removed from the debt funds, their taxation will still be better as they are taxed only when Palve is of the view that for someone in a higher tax bracket, investing in debt funds or FDs doesn't offer much difference in terms of tax efficiency, since gains from both are now taxed as per the individual's income tax slab. However, investors in this category can consider alternatives like arbitrage funds, as these funds carry a similar level of risk to debt funds but have the potential to offer better post-tax returns due to favorable taxation, making them more tax-efficient options for short-term investments, he added. Also Read | Sebi proposes changes in categorization and rationalization of mutual fund schemes ETMutualFunds considered the performance of debt mutual funds in the last one year and found that around 312 debt mutual funds have marked their presence in the market for around one year. Out of these 312 funds, 310 gave over 5.9% return. Around 17 funds gave double-digit returns in the last one Credit Risk Fund offered the highest return of around 22.9% in the last one year, followed by HSBC Credit Risk Fund which gave 21.4% return in the same Birla SL Credit Risk Fund and Aditya Birla SL Medium Term Plan gave 16.9% and 13.9% returns respectively in the same funds - DSP 10Y G-Sec Fund, Baroda BNP Paribas Corp Bond Fund, and Nippon India Dynamic Bond Fund - gave 10% each and were the last ones to offer double-digit returns. ITI Overnight Fund gave a return of 6% in the last one Overnight Fund and Motilal Oswal Ultra Short Term Fund offered equivalent returns to the FD interest rate in the last one year. The schemes gave 5.9% each in the said time generally consider overnight and liquid funds as an option for parking idle savings outside the world of banking. For a savings account alternative, safety and liquidity must take priority over anything else and liquid funds and overnight funds come closest to satisfying these discussing mutual fund categories that can now be considered a superior alternative to short-term FDs, especially for emergency funds, both the experts recommend liquid funds and ultra short duration funds and ultra-short duration funds could indeed confer superior tax efficiencies, daily liquidity and no penalty if redeemed earlier, and marginally better returns than short-term fixed deposits and for those above 20% tax bracket could consider arbitrage funds, is what Minocha similar opinion, Palve said for short-term goals and emergency funds, liquid funds & ultra-short duration funds can be a strong alternative to fixed deposits as they typically invest in debt and money market instruments with a duration of 3 to 6 months, offering better post-tax returns and higher liquidity and are especially suitable for investors in higher tax brackets, as they can deliver slightly better returns than FDs while maintaining a low-risk data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) shows that mutual fund investors have realigned their short-term investments, pulling money out of liquid and overnight funds amid changing preferences as these categories together have witnessed an outflow of more than Rs 81,000 crore in the last two months - May and the last two months, liquid funds have seen an outflow of Rs 16,274 crore and overnight funds saw an outflow of Rs 65,401 the contrary, money market funds have been receiving huge inflows. Based on the data, money market funds have received the second highest inflows in the last three months - April, May and June within 16-sub categories in debt mutual May, corporate bond funds received the highest inflow of Rs 11,983 crore among 16-sub categories whereas in June, short duration funds received the highest inflow of Rs 10,276 crore. Also Read | NFO Insight: Capitalmind Mutual Fund's flexi cap fund opens for subscription. Will it help to manage current market volatility? As corporate bond funds and short duration funds are also gaining investors' interest, can these be considered to park idle cash with liquidity and slightly better returns to which Minocha recommends that liquid funds, ultra-short funds, short-duration and arbitrage funds will give better post-tax returns with a reasonable degree of liquidity and fair safety, ideal for parking idle Palve says that with falling FD rates, investors can consider mutual funds as a better alternative to park idle cash but being selective is important. 'For an investment horizon of up to 1–6 months, ultra-short duration funds are suitable as they offer good liquidity and stable returns. For horizons above 6 months, arbitrage funds work well since they provide slightly better return potential than traditional debt funds, with comparable risk and better tax efficiency,' Palve considered all debt categories such as gilt fund, long duration, medium to long duration, gilt fund - constant maturity 10 year, credit risk funds, liquid funds, money market funds, overnight funds, corporate bond fund, dynamic bond fund, floating rate bond, banking and PSU funds, medium duration, low duration, short duration funds. We excluded debt based target maturity funds. We considered regular and growth calculated returns for one year. We calculated simple annualised returns as in debt mutual funds, returns up to one year are annualised and above one year are CAGR. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@ alongwith your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.
Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
Gold price rises 200% in six years. How expensive it may become in next 5 years?
Gold prices have delivered stellar returns to investors in 2025. The precious yellow metal on MCX has ascended over 30 per cent, other risky assets like silver surged nearly 35%, and the Nifty 50 index has risen around 4.65 per cent. The BSE Sensex has given around 3.75 per cent, while some Sensex heavyweights like Reliance share price have generated a little over 14 per cent in 2025. Nifty 50 heavyweight HDFC Bank shares have surged around 12.50 per cent. So, gold and silver have outshone other risky assets by a massive margin in YTD. The precious bullions have dominated the market in the long term, too. In six years, the MCX gold rate has risen from around ₹ 32,000 per 10 gm to around 97,800 per 10 gm, delivering a rise of over 200 per cent. According to commodity market experts, gold prices are expected to dominate the list of risky assets. The bears may deliver at least 40 per cent in the next five years, whereas the bulls may become expensive by over 125 per cent. Speaking on the gold price rally in recent years, Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart, said, "Gold has long held deep emotional and financial value in Indian households. It has also gained prominence as a strategic asset among global central banks in recent years. This shift has accelerated over the past two years, particularly after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which led to the freezing of a significant portion of Russia's foreign exchange reserves. As geopolitical tensions rise and tariff disputes continue, central banks increasingly turn to gold as a safe-haven asset, contributing to a steady rise in its price." Santosh Meena of Swastika Inestmart said several key factors drive this renewed interest in gold. One of the most notable is the weakening confidence in the US dollar. Many central banks are diversifying their reserves to reduce dependency on the dollar, and gold is emerging as the preferred alternative. Another major driver is the rising US debt-to-GDP ratio, which raises concerns about the long-term stability of the dollar and further enhances gold's appeal as a store of value. The overall geopolitical instability climate also pushes institutional and retail investors toward gold as a reliable hedge against uncertainty. On why gold prices have risen in the last six years, Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet, said, "Gold has delivered outstanding returns of nearly 200% over the past six years, rallying from around ₹ . 34,200 in June 2019 to approximately ₹ . 97,800 per 10 grams in 2025. This exceptional performance has been driven by global macroeconomic shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ultra-loose monetary policies, geopolitical tensions, and heightened financial market uncertainty." The SS WealthStreet expert said that the outbreak of the pandemic unleashed massive economic disruption and led to unprecedented monetary and fiscal interventions. Central banks across the globe slashed interest rates to near zero. They rolled out large-scale quantitative easing programs, injecting liquidity into the system and fueling inflation and currency debasement concerns. Simultaneously, real interest rates turned negative, reducing the opportunity cost of holding gold. Governments deployed aggressive stimulus measures, further expanding the money supply and reinforcing gold's role as a hedge against systemic risk. Sugandha Sachdeva went on to add that a string of geopolitical and financial flashpoints has further reinforced gold's appeal: 1] Russia-Ukraine war (Feb 2022); 2] US banking turmoil (SVB, Credit Suisse – early 2023); 3] Middle East conflict (Oct 2023); 4] Escalating US tariff war under President Trump (2025); 5] Record Central bank gold purchases; and 6] Persistent de-dollarisation efforts globally. "These tailwinds have propelled gold to fresh record highs of over ₹ 1,00,178 per 10 gm in 2025, and the environment remains supportive for structurally elevated prices over the long term," said Sugandha Sachdeva, adding, "While past returns may not be repeated at the same scale, multiple macroeconomic and structural forces point to further upside in gold over the next five years. The continued central bank purchases, strong ETF inflows, de-dollarisation drive, and rising debt levels in the US all point towards prices being meaningfully higher from current levels." On whether gold will be able to deliver this stellar performance again, "The ongoing strategic accumulation of gold by global central banks is likely to be a key pillar that would provide further strength to gold prices. Gold now comprises almost 20% of total central bank reserves against the US dollar's declining share, down from 73% in 2001 to 58% in 2025. Gold has emerged as a key beneficiary of central banks' diversification efforts. A shift towards a multi-polar currency world is eroding the dollar's dominance. Volatility in currency markets makes gold more attractive as a stable reserve asset. Furthermore, burgeoning public debt levels, particularly in the US, raise long-term fiscal risks and erode confidence in fiat currencies, making gold a crucial hedge against currency debasement." Sugaqndha said that ongoing and potential future conflicts (including economic, political, and military) will continue to elevate safe-haven demand. Beyond institutional buying, new channels of demand are emerging, such as China's insurance sector reportedly allocating 1% of its Assets Under Management (AUM) to gold, signifying growing institutional interest. ETF inflows and investor allocations toward non-yielding assets could remain strong if real yields stay suppressed. Moreover, a structurally weak rupee amplifies domestic gold price performance. Sugandha Sachdeva of SS Wealthstreet advised investors to continue investing in gold: "Gold continues to prove its mettle as a long-term store of value and a portfolio diversifier. Amid ongoing global uncertainties, rising global debt, elevated geopolitical risks, currency volatility, and policy-induced distortions, the yellow metal will likely remain a core hedge against systemic risks. Investors may consider systematic accumulation during price corrections and hold a strategic allocation over the next five years to enhance risk-adjusted returns." Regarding how much gold may become expensive in the next five years, Sugandha Sachdeva said, "Gold remains subject to intermittent corrections due to changing interest rate expectations or temporary strength in the US dollar. However, the major floor level is expected around ₹ 75,000-72000 per 10 gm, providing a strong downside cushion to prices. However, the gold price pattern suggests around ₹ 1,05,000 per 10 gm for the year, while for the next 5 years it could trend towards around ₹ 1,35,000 per gm to anywhere around ₹ 1,40,000 per 10 gm." However, Santosh Meena of Swastika Investmart believes that stellar gold price returns may continue in the next five years. Geopolitical tension and a trade war are expected to keep the demand for gold as a safe haven intact. "In terms of performance, gold has delivered an impressive 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the Indian market over the past five years. If this trajectory continues, gold prices could reach ₹ 2,25,000 per 10 grams within five years. While short-term volatility is natural, the broader structural case for gold remains intact, supported by sustained central bank buying, currency debasement concerns, and the asset's historical role as a financial haven," Santosh Meena of Swastika Investmart concluded. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
Jain Irrigation net profit declines 8.5% to Rs 11.19 crore in Jun quarter
Jain Irrigation Systems on Saturday reported an 8.5 per cent fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 11.19 crore for the latest quarter ended June 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Its net profit stood at Rs 12.23 crore in the year-ago period. The total income rose to Rs 1,547.68 crore in the April-June period of 2025-26 from Rs 1,479.24 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year, according to a regulatory filing. Jain Irrigation Systems Vice Chairman and Managing Director Anil Jain said, "In Q1 of FY26, the company experienced good demand for Micro Irrigation Systems, Tissue Culture, Exports and Solar Agri Pumps. We saw good growth in revenue and margins in Hi-Tech Agri division".Due to the early monsoon in May, he said the company saw an impact on demand for pipe."Margins for pipe business were also under pressure due to lack of demand," Jain said. ADVERTISEMENT He said the company's focus towards retail and exports has shown better results in terms of revenue growth and margins."With well-spread monsoon and the government's commitment to investment in infrastructure, we expect revival of demand for piping business in H2FY26," Jain said. ADVERTISEMENT In 2024-25, the Maharashtra-based Jain Irrigation Systems had posted a net profit of Rs 25.69 crore on a total income of Rs 5,793.24 crore. The company is engaged in the manufacturing of micro irrigation systems, PVC P pipes, HDPE pipes, plastic sheets, agro-processed products, renewable energy solutions, tissue culture plants, financial services and other agricultural inputs. PTI (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
