Keep expectations realistic: Fund managers to investors

Investors should keep expectations realistic, stay invested with discipline, and focus on asset allocation as markets move through a more measured phase, chief investment officers (CIOs) of leading fund houses said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025 0n Friday.

- BS REPORTER

From (left) Sailesh Raj Bhan, CIO equity, Nippon India Mutual Fund; Sankaran Naren, CIO, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund; Mahesh Patil, CIO, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund; Rajeev Radhakrishnan, CIO fixed income, SBI AMC; and Rajeev Thakkar, CIO, PPFAS Mutual Fund

Sankaran Naren, CIO at ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, said India’s overall position remains stable, supported by sound macroeconomic factors. “india is in better shape than a year ago,” he said duringa panel discussion moderated by Samie Modak of Business Standard.

“We have been telling investors to follow asset allocation, but we are now slightly more positive on equities than Jast year. We are in a moderate-return situation, but better than last year,” said Naren.

Sailesh Raj Bhan, CIO - equity, Nippon India Mutual Fund, said investors’ return expectations have not changed much despite recent market behaviour. “When we meet people, we realise return expectations haven't shifted down,” he said. “Something or the other keeps working in different markets, so investors continue to look for quick gains.”