Debt funds see inflow of over `94,000 cr in Q3

New Delhi: Mutual funds focused on investing in fixed-income securities saw an inflow of over Rs 94,000 crore in three months ended December 2019, driven by infusion in liquid and overnight funds.

This comes following an outflow of Rs 5,061 crore in September quarter and fund infusion to the tune of Rs 19,691 crore in June quarter, according to a report by Morningstar. It is interesting to note that half of the total inflows in the fixed- income segment came through overnight and liquid funds, where most of the institutional money is parked.

Liquid funds, with investments in cash assets such as treasury bills, certificates of deposit and commercial paper for shorter horizon, witnessed flows amounting to Rs 28,983 crore during the quarter under review.

The segment had witnessed an outflow of Rs 15,862 crore in September quarter, typically due to advance tax payment requirements. In addition, overnight funds, which invest in securities with maturity of one day, received inflows of about Rs 17,529 crore, higher than Rs 3,913 crore in the three months ended September 2019.

Further, banking and PSU category, which is considered as a safe option, received flows of Rs 16,856 crore in the quarter ended December 2019, a surge of 57 per cent from the previous three months.

As a mandate, such funds need to invest a minimum 80 per cent of their total assets in debt instruments of banks, public sector undertakings, or public financial institutions.