MF exposure to bank stocks surges in December 15/01/2015

MF exposure to bank stocks surges in December
15/01/2015 17:17
The mutual fund industry is betting big on banking stocks as its equity exposure to the sector climbed to an all-time high of nearly Rs 73,000 crore in December, said the media report. “MF’s investments in banking stocks stood at Rs 72,835 crore as on December 31, 2014, accounting for 21.88 per cent of their total equity assets under management (AUM) of Rs 3.33 lakh crore,” according to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ( Sebi). This also marks the third consecutive rise in MF industry's exposure to banking stocks, said the media report. MFs collect funds from various investors for investing in securities such as stocks, bonds, money market instruments and similar assets. The previous high was November this year when investment in the sector surged to Rs 70,575 crore. MFs had been raising their exposure to banking shares since January but their investment level in the sector dropped in September. The industry again increased the exposure in October and the momentum continued till December. The fund infusion has grown from Rs 30,339 crore in January to Rs 72,835 crore in December.