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General Studies 3 >> Economy

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PASSIVE FUNDS AND ACTIVE FUNDS

PASSIVE FUNDS AND ACTIVE FUNDS

 
 
1. Context:
For quite some time, there is a debate going on between active mutual fund schemes and passive ones. There is a shift happening in favour of passive funds. The argument is that actively managed funds charge a relatively higher expense ratio to the fund
 
2. What are Passive Funds?
Passive funds, also known as index funds or passive investments, are a type of investment fund that aims to replicate the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P 500, rather than actively selecting and managing individual assets within the fund
If a fund is not performing better than the benchmark index, then the management cost is not justified. The investor would rather buy the reference index  not literally, but through a passive fund
2.1. Significance of Passive funds
  • Passive funds typically have lower management fees compared to actively managed funds. This is because they don't require a team of investment professionals to actively research and select investments. Instead, they aim to replicate the performance of an existing index, which reduces the need for extensive research and trading
  • Passive funds often provide broad exposure to a market or a specific segment of the market. For example, an S&P 500 index fund invests in all 500 stocks included in the S&P 500 index, offering diversification across multiple sectors and industries
  • The holdings of passive funds are generally transparent and can be easily tracked, as they aim to replicate a known index. This transparency allows investors to know exactly what they are investing in
  • Passive funds follow a predetermined investment strategy, and they do not engage in active trading or frequent buying and selling of assets. This can lead to a more stable and consistent investment approach.
2.2.. Types of Passive funds
Passive funds are often contrasted with actively managed funds, where portfolio managers make investment decisions based on their research and analysis

Common types of passive funds include:

  • Index Funds: These funds aim to replicate the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq.

  • Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): ETFs are a type of passive fund that can be traded on stock exchanges, providing investors with liquidity and flexibility. They often track various indices and asset classes.

  • Passive Bond Funds: Similar to equity index funds, these funds track fixed-income indices, providing exposure to a diversified portfolio of bonds

3. What are Active Funds?
Active funds, also known as actively managed funds, are a type of investment fund in which professional portfolio managers or fund managers actively make investment decisions with the goal of outperforming a benchmark index or achieving specific investment objectives. Unlike passive funds, which seek to replicate the performance of a designated market index
3.1.Significance of Active Funds
  • Active funds are managed by investment professionals who research, analyze, and select individual securities, such as stocks, bonds, or other assets, with the aim of achieving superior returns.
  • These managers use their expertise to make buy and sell decisions based on their assessment of market conditions and investment opportunities.
  • Fund managers conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify potential investments that they believe will perform well.
  • This research may involve financial statements, company performance data, economic indicators, and various other factors.
3.2. Types of Active Funds
Investors choose active funds when they believe that the expertise of professional fund managers can deliver superior returns or when they have specific investment objectives that are not easily achieved with passive index-based investments

Common types of active funds include:

  • Equity Funds: These funds invest primarily in stocks, with the goal of achieving capital appreciation.

  • Fixed-Income Funds: These funds invest in bonds and other fixed-income securities, with an emphasis on generating income.

  • Multi-Asset Funds: These funds invest in a combination of asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and cash, to achieve diversification and risk management.

  • Alternative Funds: These funds employ non-traditional strategies, such as long-short equity, market-neutral, or hedge fund-like approaches

4. Way forward
Investors choose between passive and active funds based on their investment goals, risk tolerance, and beliefs about the effectiveness of active management in achieving better returns
All actively managed funds consistently outperform their benchmarks, and they often come with higher fees and the risk of underperformance.
 
Source: The Hindu
 

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