Mutual Fund Performance
You are an investor with a portion of your savings in mutual funds. You have seen your returns rise and fall, sometimes in quick succession. One minute, you are celebrating gains; the next, you wonder why your portfolio is not performing as expected. A major factor that affects the performance of mutual funds is the economic condition of the country and global markets. Wondering how? Keep reading the article to get the answer.
How do Economic Conditions Affect Your Mutual Fund Returns?
Here are seven economic conditions that directly or indirectly affect the returns of your mutual fund investment or even other security trading like derivative trading or ETF (Exchange-Traded Funds).
1. Interest Rate
Interest rate change significantly influences mutual fund returns. When rates increase, the net asset value (NAV) of debt funds decreases as the lower yields on the previously issued bonds make them less appealing in the secondary market.
Conversely, equity schemes have mixed effects. Since higher rates may increase the borrowing cost of the listed companies, not only does their profit reduce, but the stock price also falls. However, financial sectors might benefit from higher rates because of better lending margins. Money market funds, focused on short-term debt, often benefit as they can reinvest in higher-yield instruments.
2. Inflation
Inflation causes a steady increase in the cost of goods and services. When inflation rises, the value of money decreases, which can erode real investment returns. For mutual funds, this implies that nominal returns might appear favourable; however, once inflation is accounted for, real returns could be substantially lower or even turn negative. Higher inflation often causes an increase in companies' operating costs, which can shrink their profit margins and, in turn, reduce equity mutual fund returns.
Moreover, inflation can also drive up interest rates, which tend to lower bond prices and debt mutual funds. The best way to deal with this is to balance your portfolio by investing in assets like commodities and real estate.
3. Gross Domestic Product
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates affect corporate earnings and economic stability. A growing GDP reflects a strong economy while boosting corporate profits and consumer spending. This scenario is beneficial for equity mutual funds, as companies perform well, increasing stock prices and returns on equity funds. In contrast, during low GDP growth or recession periods, corporate profits may fall, lowering equity fund returns. Additionally, GDP growth can lead to higher interest rates, which lowers bond prices and debt fund value.
4. Employment Rates
Employment rates and mutual fund performance often move in tandem as economic health impacts both. When employment rates rise, more people have income to spend and invest. Increased consumer spending boosts corporate profits, which drives up stock prices.
Equity mutual funds, which invest in stocks, typically perform well in such conditions because of rising market values. For example, if employment rates increase after an economic downturn, sectors like retail and manufacturing see revenue growth.
Conversely, if employment rates drop, decreased consumer spending can reduce corporate earnings, potentially lowering fund returns.
5. Global Events
Global issues, such as wars, economic crises,IPO and political turmoil, impact mutual fund performance. These events result in uncertainty, causing investors to either turn to safer assets or withdraw their capital from riskier markets, ultimately affecting mutual fund values.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, global markets fell as economies shut down, directly affecting equity mutual funds worldwide. At that time, you may have observed funds heavily invested in industries like travel and hospitality saw steep losses due to reduced activity and profits in these sectors. However, funds with investments in tech or healthcare often performed better as demand surged.
6. Exchange Rates
Exchange rates affect mutual fund performance if the fund invests in international assets. A rise in the value of the domestic currency against foreign currencies reduces the gains from foreign investments when converted back to the local currency. Conversely, a decline in the domestic currency can enhance returns from foreign assets.
For example, if an Indian mutual fund invests in US stocks, strengthening the Indian rupee (INR) against the US dollar (USD) would reduce the value of returns when converted into INR. On the other hand, if the rupee weakens, the returns in INR would increase, even if the stock's performance remains the same.
7. Supply Chain Issues
Supply chain issues affect mutual fund performance, particularly those investing in sectors reliant on goods and raw materials. When disruptions such as delays in production or logistics companies face higher costs, reduced sales, and lower profitability, which in turn affects their stock prices.
For example, if the scheme portfolio appearing on your SIP App constitutes stocks invested in automobile companies, it may suffer if there is a chip shortage, leading to production delays. This causes a company's stock value to decline, reducing the mutual fund's returns. Further, these interruptions have a greater impact on sectors such as technology, retail, and manufacturing, contributing to higher volatility in their performance during supply chain instability.
Tips to Maximise Returns in Different Economic Conditions
Familiarise yourself with market cycles bull, bear, and stagnation periods. Timing your investments according to these cycles can enhance long-term returns.
In uncertain times, index funds that track broader markets offer more stability and lower risks while providing good returns over time.
High management fees can drain into your returns. Select funds on the HDFC SKY App with lower expense ratios to maximise profits over time.
Avoid making rash decisions based on short-term economic changes. Stick to your investment strategy and inspect it periodically to ensure it matches your goals.
Even during market volatility, staying focused on long-term growth-oriented funds helps you ride out short-term fluctuations and benefit from eventual recovery.
Economic changes often shift the performance of sectors. Rebalancing your portfolio ensures that you are not overexposed to underperforming areas.
Conclusion
Economic conditions significantly influence mutual fund performance. By understanding how factors like interest rates, inflation, GDP, and global events affect your investments, you can make informed decisions. After you open Demat Account, staying disciplined, diversifying your portfolio, and aligning it with long-term goals helps manage risk. Keep monitoring your investments to ensure they adapt to economic changes, maximising returns while minimising potential losses.
