December inflows in equity funds highest in over two years

Equity mutual funds witnessed the highest monthly inflows in more than two years in December, helped by new fund launches coupled with higher equity allocation as markets recovered in the back half of the year.

Equity funds had net inflows of Rs 10.59 billion last month, the highest since September 2011, when Rs 14.01 billion were invested in such funds, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

For the full year, equity funds had net redemptions of Rs 87.08 billion, taking the total outflows for last four years to Rs 496.03 billion as the industry struggles amid low investor confidence in the aftermath of the 2008 recession.

Debt funds had net outflows of Rs 89.54 billion in December as investors pulled out on growing uncertainty about the central bank's monetary policy action.

(Reuters)