How pension funds flow into equity ETFs skewing markets

Synopsis After Covid’s second wave, 92% of active fund managers lagged the index. Now, massive passive inflows — INR7,500 crore a month, led by EPFO-backed ETFs — are accused of inflating Nifty 50 stock prices. But is this surge quietly reshaping India’s markets? The safest, cheapest and the easiest way of investing in equities for the common man may well be turning into a primary tool in distorting the market – index investing. In March 2021, the second wave of Covid delivered a double blow — lives were lost, economies stalled, and markets cracked. For investors, it was a brutal phase. For fund managers, it was even worse. The SPIVA report released in June 2022 captured the pain: a staggering 92% of Continue reading with one of these options: Limited Access Free Login to get access to some exclusive stories & personalised newsletters Login Now Unlimited Access Starting @ Rs120/month Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions & in-depth stock reports Subscribe Now ET Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today! Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends. Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off Student Only Offer Already a Member? Sign In now Already a Member? Sign In now Already a Member? Sign In now Offer Exclusively For You Save up to Rs. 700/- ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP Avail Offer Offer Exclusively For You Get 1 Year Free With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership Avail Offer Offer Exclusively For You Get 1 Year Free With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership Avail Offer Offer Exclusively For You Get Flat 40% Off Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year Avail Offer Offer Exclusively For You ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year Avail Offer Special Offer Get flat 40% off on ETPrime Avail Offer Avail Offer Claim Now Already a Member? Sign In now What’s Included with ETPrime Membership 1Exclusive Insights That Matter Uncover the truth with our investigative stories Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer. Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world? Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China? The problem with lab grown diamonds Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year 2Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper ePaper - Print View Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime. ePaper - Digital View Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday. Wealth Edition Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide. 3Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends. Buy low & sell high with access to Stock Score, Upside potential & more. Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks. Check the score based on the company's fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks. Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions. Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts. 4Times Of India Subscription (1 Year) TOI ePaper Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime. Deep Explainers Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions. Health+ Stories Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being. Personal Finance+ Stories Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance. New York Times Exclusives Stay globally informed with exclusive story from New York Times. 5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands Docubay Subscription Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day. 6Get Inspired by Grandmasters Martin Shwenk Leadership | Entrepreneurship People | Culture Narayana Murthy Leadership | Entrepreneurship People | Culture Adar Poonawalla Leadership | Entrepreneurship People | Culture Manu Jain Leadership | Entrepreneurship People | Culture Nitin Kamath Leadership | Entrepreneurship People | Culture