SIP flows have proved remarkably resilient, but that resilience could be tested if equities disappoint for years, says Kalpen Parekh, MD & CEO of DSP Mutual Fund. He said, “Flows are difficult to forecast, and if an asset class disappoints investors for five, six or seven years, some of that resilience could weaken.”
While some investors may stop SIPs as tenures end or returns disappoint, a steady stream of new investors continues to enter, helped by rising employment and stronger faith in SIPs and equities.
“SIP growth may not continue at the pace of the last five years, but I don’t expect investors to give up unless we see a significant market correction.”
For markets, Parekh sees the bigger risks in a sharp spike in global interest rates or oil prices, particularly if the West Asia war escalates. Barring that, valuations across banks, insurance and technology have come closer to fair value, allowing the fund house to deploy money in these segments.
One-year returns are random. Can be anything - high/low/negative.