Why would a mutual fund close?
Factors Leading to a Closed Fund
The biggest reason why a mutual fund company will decide to close its fund's doors is that the fund's strategy is being threatened by the fund's size. The decision to close a fund's doors to new investors could be to protect existing shareholders from stagnant or declining fund performance.
In the case of a Mutual Fund company shutting down, either the trustees of the fund have to approach SEBI for approval to close or SEBI by itself can direct a fund to shut. In such cases, all investors are returned their funds based on the last available net asset value, before winding up.
A closed-end fund is a type of mutual fund that issues a fixed number of shares through one initial public offering (IPO) to raise capital for its initial investments. Its shares can then be bought and sold on a stock exchange, but no new shares will be created, and no new money will flow into the fund.
Can One Withdraw Mutual Funds Anytime? Investments in open-end schemes are redeemable at any time. However, investments in the Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) carry some restrictions, as they come with a three-year lock-in period from the investment date.
Unlike stocks and ETFs, mutual funds trade only once per day, after the markets close at 4 p.m. ET. If you enter a trade to buy or sell shares of a mutual fund, your trade will be executed at the next available net asset value, which is calculated after the market closes and typically posted by 6 p.m. ET.
Inherent in all closed-end bond funds are market risk and credit risk. Market risk involves the potential impact of increasing interest rates, which could lead to a decrease in the value of the fund's bond holdings.
The chances of a mutual fund becoming zero are very low. This is because a mutual fund invests in several assets. So, even if a few assets do not perform well, other assets can generate returns. This can balance the losses of non-performing assets.
Mutual funds are largely a safe investment, seen as being a good way for investors to diversify with minimal risk. But there are circ*mstances in which a mutual fund is not a good choice for a market participant, especially when it comes to fees.
When your mutual fund has a significant capital loss, while other holdings incur capital gains, it might be time to sell. In such a case, if you sell the fund, you'll be able to secure a capital loss on your tax return. That loss can offset realized capital gains and ultimately lower your tax bill.
What are the risks of a closed-end mutual fund?
Valuation Risk: The market price of a CEF at any point in time is likely to vary from the fund's NAV. The size of any price premium and/or discount could have a significant impact on an investor's return over time.
Most are seeking solid returns on their investments through the traditional means of capital gains, price appreciation and income potential. The wide variety of closed-end funds on offer and the fact that they are all actively managed (unlike open-ended funds) make closed-end funds an investment worth considering.
A closed-end fund has a fixed number of shares offered by an investment company through an initial public offering. Open-end funds (which most of us think of when we think mutual funds) are offered through a fund company that sells shares directly to investors.
Key differences between open-end and closed-end funds
Trading – In an open-end mutual fund, shares can be bought and sold at the end of each day at the fund's closing NAV, whereas closed-end funds trade based on supply and demand throughout the day and can trade at either a premium or discount to the fund's NAV.
What is the 8-4-3 rule of compounding? In the 8-4-3 strategy, the average return of a particular investment amount for 8 years is 12 per cent/annum, while after that time period, it will take only half of that horizon, i.e., 4 years (total 12 years), to get a return of 12 per cent.
If you invested through a broker or distributor, you could withdraw money from a Mutual Fund plan through them. Contacting your broker and requesting a withdrawal are options. You must complete and submit a withdrawal request form if you want to withdraw offline.
Typically, the ideal holding period for an equity mutual fund is considered anywhere between a minimum of 3-5 years. But data shows that only investments in 3% of the units continued for more than 5 years.
To discourage excessive trading and protect the interests of long-term investors, mutual funds keep a close eye on shareholders who sell shares within 30 days of purchase – called round-trip trading – or try to time the market to profit from short-term changes in a fund's NAV.
Mutual Funds orders remain open until the market closes at 4:00 pm ET and execute anywhere between 5:00 and 6:30 pm in general.
Since equity mutual funds are market-linked2, they can be volatile. This means if the market goes up, they will generate higher returns, and if the market goes down, it can create chances of loss in mutual funds.
Are mutual funds safer than stocks?
A mutual fund provides diversification through exposure to a multitude of stocks. The reason that owning shares in a mutual fund is recommended over owning a single stock is that an individual stock carries more risk than a mutual fund. This type of risk is known as unsystematic risk.
The money you've invested in the mutual fund is safe even if the fund company goes belly-up (like Lehman) or needs a federal bailout (like AIG). There are several lines of safety. For one thing, you're a shareholder in a mutual fund. Your money isn't an asset of the fund company itself.
Disadvantages include high fees, tax inefficiency, poor trade execution, and the potential for management abuses.
Money market mutual funds = lowest returns, lowest risk
They are considered one of the safest investments you can make. Money market funds are used by investors who want to protect their retirement savings but still earn some interest — often between 1% and 3% a year.
All funds carry some level of risk. With mutual funds, you may lose some or all of the money you invest because the securities held by a fund can go down in value. Dividends or interest payments may also change as market conditions change.
