The strong inflow has pushed the asset base of equity mutual funds (MFs) by more than 6 per cent to Rs 8 lakh crore at the end of April from Rs 7.5 lakh crore in the preceding month.

While the Sensex logged 11.30 per cent gains, the Nifty rose 18.55 per cent during the last fiscal.

A guide to aligning tax savings with the overall portfolio goals.

With sentiments turning positive, equity investors are now again hoping for a tax-friendly 2018 Union Budget. 

But you will be surprised to know small and mid cap funds have delivered returns during the last five years that beat the benchmark indices on a consistent basis.

You will be surprised to know nearly Rs 70,000 crore is lying unclaimed in various kind of accounts in the country. Investors have parked their money in stocks, insurance policies, provident funds and seem to have forgotten all about it. 

This also marks the 16th straight month of inflows into equity schemes. Prior to that, such funds had witnessed a pullout of Rs 1,370 crore in March 2016.

Earlier, the stock made a new yearly high of 616.15 on the BSE. The stock has gained 85.73 percent or 278 points on an year to date basis. Total income was at Rs 4,049.57 crore, up 42.56 per cent, during the period under review as against Rs 2,840.56 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal. \"Driven by the jewellery business, our profit saw an outstanding growth this quarter,\" said Titan Managing Director Bhaskar Bhat.

In such cases, one of the asset classes to consider is short-term income funds which offer 9-10 percent annualized returns. These are highly liquid funds, hence you can withdraw money anytime unlike fixed deposits which come with a fixed lock-in period.

At this juncture when the market may have just seen the maximum upward move, investors especially the first-time equity investors will find it difficult to pump their money into stocks, expecting decent returns.

Not only returns are tax-free after the lock-in period of three years, ELSS also offer you deduction of up to Rs 2 lakh under section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Equity-linked saving schemes have outshone the regular, diversified equity funds over the past few years

Over 46 million equity-linked retail investors in mutual fund industry may be in for a jolt if the goverment goes ahead with its plans to tax dividends at a hefty 10 per cent from next fiscal year.

Investing in ELSS not only reduces your tax liability but gives greater liquidity, lesser lock-in period, the option of investing using SIPs or in lumpsun and more.