Top Indian Mutual Funds Comparison - Best of 2008

I have a need to invest some amount into mutual funds this year so was looking at the top rated funds. While doing so I prepared notes that will be useful to me to make a decision and I thought publishing here might people who might be looking for the same. I used the information provided in ValueResearchOnline website and came up with this table. The information may not be 100 % accurate however it should provide you a quick comparison guide.

Fund	Type	Performance	Top Stocks/Sectors	Charges	Manager
DSPML T.I.G.E.R. Reg-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No swap No reinvestment Launch May 2004	Bad this year, Better on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 24.82 Manage > 3000 crs	Large caps, high concentration on energy, Diversified with 60 stocks, Top 10 Holdings are 39.67 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.dspmlmutualfund.com Anup Maheshwari Since: Apr - 2008 Mr. Maheshwari holds a BCom Degree and is an MBA from IIM (Lucknow). He joined DSPML in April 2001, prior to which , he was with Chescor as Senior Analyst. He has also worked for IRIS and SCICI as analyst and project officer.
DSPML Top 100 Equity Reg-G	Low Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Feb 2003	Good this year Above Average on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 35.29 Manage > 1000 crs	High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 50 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Apoorva Shah Since: Apr - 2006 Mr. Shah is a Commerce Graduate and PGDM from IIM, Ahmedabad. Prior to joining DSPML AMC, he has worked with GPC India as Portfolio Advisor & Head of Products and with DSP Merrill Lynch.
DWS Alpha Equity-G	Low Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Jan 2003	Good this year Above Average on good years Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 30.25 Manage > 159 crs	Very High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 50.55 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.dws-india.com Aniket Inamdar Since: Jun - 2007 Mr. Inamdar is an Engineer, and holds a PGDM, from IIM, Ahmedabad. He joined Deutsche Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. in May 2007.Prior to this, he was with ICICI Prudential AMC for 3 years and has also worked with DBS Cholamandalam AMC and UTI AMC.
DWS Investment Opportunity-G	Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jan 2004	Bad this year Average on good years (only one) Benchmark BSE 200 Return Since Launch - 17.64 Manage > 161 crs	Very High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 39.37 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Aniket Inamdar Since: Jun - 2007 Mr. Inamdar is an Engineer, and holds a PGDM, from IIM, Ahmedabad. He joined Deutsche Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. in May 2007.Prior to this, he was with ICICI Prudential AMC for 3 years and has also worked with DBS Cholamandalam AMC and UTI AMC.
ICICI Pru Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Aug 2005	Not bad this year High on good years (only one) Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 20.49 Manage > 3500 crs	High on energy. Metals, Diversified Top 10 Holdings are 53 % More Debt portion currently	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.icicipruamc.com Sankaran Naren Since: Oct - 2005 Mr. Naren is a B.Tech from IIT, Madras and holds a PGDM from IIM Calcutta. Prior to joining Pru ICICI AMC, he has worked with Refco Sify Securities, HDFC Securities and Yoha Securities. Mrinal Singh Since: Aug - 2008 Mr. Singh is Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and PGDM from SPJIMR, Mumbai. He has over 6 yrs. of experience of which 3 months in equity market.
Kotak Opportunities-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Aug 2004	Bad this year Above Ave on good years (only one) Benchmark S&P CNX 500 Return Since Launch - 23.46 Manage > 756 crs	High on Financial Services. Technology, Energy Top 10 Holdings are 38.05 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.kotakmutual.com Anurag Jain Since: Jul - 2007 Mr.Jain is a Chemical Engineer and holds a Diploma in Management from IIM Kolkata. Joined the equity markets in 2001 working with SBI Mutual Fund, ICICI Bank followed with SSKI securities. He joined the AMC in August 2005, as a part of the equity fund management team for evaluating investment opportunities in equities. Krishna Sanghvi Since: Jul - 2007 Mr.Sanghvi is a Commerce Graduate, pursued Cost & Work Account from ICWAI, Master of Management Studies (Finance) from NMIMS, Mumbai and CFA from ICFAI. Has an experience in Credit Appraisal & Credit Risk Management. Prior to joining Kotak AMC, had worked with Kotak Mahindra Primus Ltd., Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. & Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Ltd. He has also worked with IDBI for nearly 2 yrs.
Magnum COMMA-G	Above Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jul 2005	Bad this year Average on good years (only one) Benchmark BSE 200 Return Since Launch - 9.28 Manage > 508 crs	Very High on Energy. Metals, Chemicals since it is for investing in commodities Top 10 Holdings are 55.28 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.sbimf.com Sudhanshu Asthana Since: Oct - 2007 Mr.Asthana ia a M.A in Economics from Mumbai University and holds a Diploma in Investment Management from NMIMS Has more than 7 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before being designated as fund manager had worked in same capacity and as Equity Analyst with the Quantum AMC for 1 year, for 5 months was with Quantum Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
Magnum Contra –G	Below Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Jul 1999	Bad this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 24.74 Manage > 2050 crs	High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 32.50 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Pankaj Gupta Since: May - 2007 Mr. Gupta is a Commerce Graduate and MBA from IIM, Luchnow. Has over 4 yrs. of experience in Mutual Fund, Equity Research and Corporate Banking. He had his previous assignment with ICICI Bank Ltd.
Reliance Regular Savings Equity	Below Average Risk Open End Growtjh - MidCap Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch May 2005	Average this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 11.53 Manage > 733 crs	Mid Cap oriented High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 32.43 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.reliancemutual.com Arpit Malaviya Since: Oct - 2007 Mr.Malaviya is a Commerce Graduate and holds a CA degree. Prior to joining Reliance AMC, he had worked with JM Financial AMC and ICAP India Pvt.Ltd. as fixed income securities dealer and also with Haribhakti & Co. OmPrakash Kuckien Since: Nov - 2007 Mr. Kuckian holds an AICWA degree. He has more than 18 years of experience. Prior to this he was associated with HDFC Securities Ltd, SMIFS Securities Ltd, and Canbank Financial Services.
Sundaram BNP Paribas Select Focus Reg-G	Below Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jul 2002	Good this year High on good years Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 32.46 Manage > 916 crs	High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 41.14 % Has about 28% in debt and other instruments currently	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.sundarambnpparibas.in Srividhya Rajesh Since: Jul - 2002 She is an alumnus of BITS Pilani. Prior to joining Sundaram, she has worked for two years in Kotak Mahindra.
Tata Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Dec 2004	At par this year High on good years Benchmark Sensex Return Since Launch - 23.22 Manage > 2046 crs	Very High on Energy, Financial Services. Basic Engg, Top 10 Holdings are 44.51 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180 days	www.tatamutualfund.com M Venugopal Since: Feb - 2005 Mr Venugopal is B.Sc in Mathematics and also holds an MBA degree with specialisation in Finance. From August 1995 to September 1997, gained good understanding of the stock market having worked as dealer at Tata Asset Management Ltd for about two years after which he assumed equity fund management responsibility. Has good exposure to large number of industries and companies having done fundamental research over the years
UTI Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Apr 2004	Bad this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 22.75 Manage > 1625 crs	High on Energy,Basic Engg, Diversified, Technology Top 10 Holdings are 43.77 % Hard Core infra fund	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180 days	www.utimf.com Sanjay Ramdas Dongre Since: Nov - 2005 Mr. Dongre holds a B.E. and a post-graduate degree in management from IIM (Kolkata). He joined UTI in 1994.Initially, he was asigned a job of Debt analyst which was acting as a support service for fund management activity. He also worked as Equity Research analyst covering wide range of corporates and industries. Subsequently he worked as

Iceland gets swamped by the financial crisis

We have heard some of the major investment banks go bust during the current financial crisis but what a whole country? But it could really happen and pretty soon if things don't work out well for Iceland!

All the top 3 banks in Iceland have run into trouble and no Western European country has come to its rescue so far. All they need is 4 billion euro and none of its friends have come forward. On the contrary to its NATO members response Russia has shown interest and is in talks at the moment and obviously they are doing it for much more than economic reasons. But this does not come out well then Iceland can go bankrupt. The following is the excerpt from a news report

Iceland took control on Thursday of its biggest bank, Kaupthing, to try to shore up a teetering banking system.

The state has now seized control of three of the nation's major banks after Landsbanki and Glitnir were taken over earlier this week.

At the center of a financial hurricane which has claimed several of the world's biggest banks, Iceland's prime minister has warned of the risk of national bankruptcy.

The central bank has tried then abandoned attempts to prop up its battered currency.

Valuable lessons taught by Stock Markets in 2008

As a novice to investing and still in my first year I truly believe that this period is teaching me valuable lessons in having ones patience and courage and also in not taking the markets for granted. This period showcases the risk that's inherent in investing in stocks which everyone seemed to have forgotten in the ensuing great bull run. In these dark days teachings or principles of Warren Buffet prove so correct. I mean his emphasis on preservation of capital as the most important aspect of investing.

My emotions keep varying during these days but I still drum up the courage to continue with my SIPs and I now tend to think that markets are now at the last phase of this bear run. Lets see whats in store for the rest of year.

RK

Indian Markets : Are we at the end of the mayhem?

Just like optimism is at its highest during the last phase of a bull market could this be the lowest point that is common during the end of a bear market? I can't see how more pessimistic one can be! How can one explain blue chips falling 10% or more in a day! The markets are now purely fear driven and no one can talk about fundamentals anymore. Just sit and watch and hope!

Just a while ago Mr. Deepak Parekh said on CNBC that even 100 Crores were not available in the market today. You could feel the pain in his voice when he was talking and he went to the extent of blaming RBI for the mayhem today because of their rigidity in infusing liquidity in the market.

RK

Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation finally fixes record date for bonus!!!

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The wait is over!! GMDC has finally fixed the record date for the 1:1 bonus it declared in Jan 2008. The stock is heavily beaten down already so not sure how much of a help this is going to be! Anyhow the following is the news report on this issue.

Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC) has informed that the shareholders in the adjourned Annual General Meeting held on September 24, 2008 have approved issuance of Bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 and authorized the Board of Directors to fix a record date to decide the entitlement of Bonus. Accordingly, the Board has decided October 17, 2008, as the record date for the purpose of deciding entitlement of shareholders for Bonus.

House in US sells for $1.75 on eBay - Weird but true!!

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This is something I came across today which sounded totally untrue but it seems to be for real

New York: In the midst of the housing mortgage crisis gripping the US, a Chicago woman has won an online bid to acquire a home in Michigan for just $1.75.

Noting that the price of the home in Saginaw, Michigan, was less than the price of a McDonald's value meal, a media report said that it received total eight bids on eBay.com and was sold for $1.75 on Wednesday evening.

However, the winner of the bid, 30-year-old Joanne Smith of Chicago, would have to pay about $850 towards pending taxes yard clean-up costs, the Saginaw News reported.

The winner herself, however, does not want to move to the house and wants to sell it further.

"I am going to try and sell it," she told the newspaper, adding, "I don't have any plans to move to Saginaw. I don't have any plans of moving out from Chicago."

Smith has not yet seen the property. "People from whom I bought the house are not giving me any information about it," the report quoted her saying.

"I know that the property is abandoned and that there are taxes owed on the house, but all I have is their e-mail," she added.

The newspaper reported that it could not reach the seller, Southern Investments LLC, for comment.

"I was trying to go and see it, but I am not going to make a 300-mile trip if I can't go in the house and see inside," Smith told the daily, adding, "It could be haunted or something."

"She will pay additional charges, aside from the dollar and change it cost her, to win the auction. Back taxes and a trash/weed clean-up will set the final price tag around $850. The fee is due by Tuesday, March 31, or the city will foreclose on the property," the report said.