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DSP Mutual Fund August 2026 Netra Webinar - FundYantra Fundspeak
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India is the one large market not in the AI trade. That’s now an asset, not a shortcoming

DSP Mutual Fund August 2026 Netra Webinar The DSP Netra August 2026 briefing opens with a sharp reframe: the world is paying record prices for AI capacity it cannot yet monetise. India is the one large market not in that trade — and that is now an asset, not a shortcoming. India’s software-heavy, semiconductor-light composition is a diversification asset right now, not just a hedge against a future reversal. DSP Netra August 2026: the AI concentration risk case This month’s DSP Netra August 2026 briefing comes from Sahil Kapoor, Head of Products & Market Strategist at DSP Mutual Fund. Read alongside the Kotak August outlook — which framed India as the “anti-AI destination if the trade reverses” — and the UTI July non-consensus call. Where Kotak positions India as a hedge, DSP goes further: India’s market composition is a diversification asset right now, and the bargain universe available today didn’t exist in 2024. AI HARDWARE TRADE Fence-Sit INDIA COMPOSITION Diversification Asset BARGAIN UNIVERSE 450–500 Names LT RETURNS Reset to 10–12% Summary The DSP Netra August 2026 call turns on the AI capex concentration risk. Technology now sits at 41% of MSCI ACWI market cap — larger than at the dot-com peak, and the entire move has come from hardware and semiconductors, not software. AI capex is now 2.4–2.7% of US GDP — roughly $1 trillion in 2026 alone — with five hyperscalers having spent $1.3 trillion over five years, more than the world’s largest oil and gas companies since COVID. HBM and memory prices have multiplied 20 to 30 times in a year, which means nominal spend is overstating real capacity creation. The return math doesn’t work yet: a $2–3 trillion cumulative capex programme needs $3–4 trillion of annual revenue to justify itself, while global IT spend after 40–50 years is $6 trillion. The gap has to come out of the $45 trillion global wage bill — and that isn’t a short exercise. India’s setup is the mirror image. IT services are now just 7.4% of the Nifty — below the global financial crisis low of 8.8%. Nifty price-to-book is below its long-term average with ROEs materially higher than at the December 2020 lows. Out of the BSE 1400-plus universe, 450 to 500 companies now screen as bargains with sub-20-times multiples available across financials, IT, select healthcare, auto and insurance — a set that simply did not exist in 2024. Two flat years have delivered a time correction, not a price correction. DSP’s calls: fence-sit on the AI hardware trade; own India as a diversification asset now; reset long-term return expectations to 10–12% before costs; and hunt the bargain universe. The detail The AI concentration risk — 41% of MSCI ACWI, larger than the dot-com peak Technology, counting IT and communication services together, is now 41% of MSCI ACWI market cap — larger than at the dot-com peak. And within it, the entire move has come from hardware and semiconductors, not software. A large part of the reported capex is price, not capacity. Some HBM and memory prices have multiplied 20 to 30 times in a year. GPU rental pricing and the semiconductor producer price index have both moved sharply higher, which means nominal spend is overstating real capacity creation. Funding is increasingly moving from cash flow to debt — having been almost entirely cash-flow-funded until recently. And China is undercutting on price with open-weight models while adding grid capacity in a single year equal to all of Germany’s — which puts the incumbents’ revenue visibility, and therefore their funding, at risk. The return math — the cascade that doesn’t compute yet Every $1 of infrastructure capex becomes $1.5 at the compute layer, $2.7 at the model layer and $4 at the end user. So a $2 to $3 trillion cumulative capex programme needs $3 to $4 trillion of annual revenue to justify itself. Global IT spend, after forty to fifty years, is $6 trillion. The gap has to come out of the $45 trillion global wage bill. That is the unanswered question — and it doesn’t get answered in a quarter. Business investment in computer and peripheral equipment in the US is growing 75% year on year; globally the number is close to $600 billion and approaching the dot-com peak as a share of GDP. That is roughly five to six years of normal demand bought in two years. Why India sits outside — IT at 7.4% of the Nifty, below the GFC low India sits outside the AI hardware trade almost entirely. IT services are now just 7.4% of the Nifty — below the global financial crisis low of 8.8%. That composition, until recently framed as a lack of exposure, is now the setup. All of MSCI EM’s return this year has come from technology, and within technology from semis and hardware. India’s more diversified market composition — software-heavy, semiconductor-light — could become a diversification advantage if the semiconductor and hardware trade normalises. Indian valuations have quietly reset. Nifty price-to-book is below its long-term average on both trailing and forward, at levels last seen in December 2020 but with materially higher ROEs. The same price, better quality. The bargain universe — 450 to 500 names that didn’t exist in 2024 Out of the BSE 1400-plus universe, 450 to 500 companies now screen as bargains, with sub-20-times multiples available across financials, IT, select healthcare, auto and insurance. That is a large enough set to build a genuinely better-quality portfolio — a set that simply did not exist in 2024. Two flat years have delivered a time correction rather than a price correction. The Nifty has spent over 103 days below its 200-day average with modest drawdowns — which is exactly the starting point that improves forward returns. Reset long-term returns to 10–12% before costs — the honest math Reset long-term return expectations to 10 to 12% before costs. Domestic sales growth tracks nominal GDP at 10 to 12%. Export growth lands at 7 to 11% including currency. Margins

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Kotak Mutual Fund August 2026 Market Outlook Webinar - FundYantra Fundspeak
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The setup has changed — IPO supply is the new ceiling

Kotak Mutual Fund August 2026 Market Outlook The Kotak market outlook August 2026 delivers a specific reframe: FPI ownership of Indian equities is at a decadal low, FPIs turned buyers in July, and earnings are beating across every market-cap bucket. The setup has changed — what caps the upside now is IPO supply, not fundamentals. Kotak market outlook August 2026: the setup has changed This month’s Kotak market outlook August 2026 briefing comes from Nilesh Shah, MD & CEO of Kotak Mutual Fund, alongside the equity and fixed income teams. Read alongside the Kotak July outlook — where the call was “diversify, don’t react” — and the UTI July non-consensus call that flagged US-dollar peaks. This month, Kotak turns constructive: get invested, but stagger it. FPI OWNERSHIP Decadal Low EARNINGS Beating All Buckets MID-CAPS Overweight ENTRY Stagger, Don’t Lump Summary The Kotak market outlook August 2026 lands on a constructive but disciplined call. FPI ownership of Indian equities is at a decadal low, FPIs sold through March–June but turned buyers in July, and the June-quarter earnings beat was broad: 13 Nifty 50 companies beat versus 6 misses, 17 of Nifty Next 50 beat versus 3, and 18 mid-caps beat versus 12. MSCI India earnings grew around 10% in FY26 with FY27 and FY28 both tracking double digits. What caps the upside now, in Kotak’s read, is IPO supply — not fundamentals. The risks are specific and named: monsoon (June at 40% deficit, July nearly normal but a super El Niño expected through August–September), fiscal pressure (personal income tax growth at a decadal low, capex stagnant), a rupee near an all-time low with the RBI over $100 billion short in the forward market, and globally, US hyperscaler free cash flow turning negative with ~$1.65 trillion of AI-related debt sitting off balance sheet as committed leases. The framework: get invested, but stagger it. Two–three instalments if underweight; six–nine spread over three months if equal-weight. Mid-cap overweight, large-cap equal-weight, small-cap marginally underweight. Financials are the anchor, discretionary consumption over staples, IT neutral, gold positive, and if the AI trade reverses — India sits at the top of the anti-AI list. The detail The setup — FPI ownership at decadal low, earnings beating across buckets FPIs sold through March to June and turned buyers in July, with FPI ownership of Indian equities now at a decadal low. On a Nifty-versus-global-indices basis, this kind of divergence is historically where Indian markets bottom out and start outperforming. Corporate earnings have beaten across the board in the June quarter: 13 Nifty 50 companies beat versus 6 misses, 17 of the Nifty Next 50 beat versus 3, and 18 mid-caps beat versus 12. MSCI India Index earnings grew around 10% in FY26; FY27 and FY28 are both tracking double digits. Valuations are reasonable — large-caps around historical average, large-mids at a 10% premium, small caps at about 20% premium. Government and RBI have moved hard on flows: ECB norms liberalised, roughly $37–40 billion mobilised under FCNR-B, tax exemption for debt FPIs, and roughly $100 billion expected between June and December 2026 — enough to cover the RBI’s forward position and restore some respectability to the rupee. Services exports at ~$400 billion with a $200 billion-plus surplus; GCCs offset the IT services drag; defence exports have climbed to ₹38,000 crore. RBI has revised core inflation down to about 4.3% and GDP growth up. The risks — monsoon, fiscal pressure, rupee, retail credit shift Monsoon is the live one. June came in at a 40% deficit, July was almost normal and pulled the season deficiency down to 13%, but a super El Niño is expected through August and September — a positive Indian Ocean Dipole is the only offset in sight. Agriculture is under 15% of GDP but employs a far larger share of the workforce, and once the monsoon deficit goes beyond 10%, the hit to agriculture GDP and the rural economy is substantial. Fiscally: personal income tax collection growth has slowed to a decadal low, government spending is the lowest in a decade, and central government capex has stagnated from FY26 and is likely to stay flat in FY27 — with the Middle East situation and a potential 8th Pay Commission pushing the deficit above budget. The rupee is near an all-time low, with the RBI over $100 billion short in the forward market and Chinese imports keeping the goods trade deficit high. A shift in retail credit worth watching: consumption loans not taken for a vehicle or a home are now roughly half of all outstanding retail credit, up from 34% in March 2017. That is a leverage build in the household balance sheet, not a growth story. Global — AI credit stress and the “anti-AI destination” case US hyperscalers have turned free cash flow negative. Their borrowing is going from under $20 billion in 2023–24 to about $200 billion in 2026. Credit spreads have widened across the group. And roughly $1.65 trillion of AI-related debt sits off balance sheet as committed leases. Kotak’s read: if the AI trade reverses, money looks for an anti-AI destination — and India sits at the top of that list. That is the case for hoping this time brings a decoupling between US and Indian markets. Cap-size positioning — Mid OW, Large EW, Small UW Mid-cap overweight, large-cap equal weight, small-cap marginally underweight. Earnings have delivered across all buckets, but the valuation math tilts positioning toward mid-caps. Small caps are already about 20% above historical average valuations and are up 15% from pre-crisis levels while large caps are still 4% below February. The value has moved unevenly — Kotak wants exposure to the segment where earnings and valuation align, and steps back from the segment that has already run. Sector calls — Financials anchor, discretionary consumption, IT neutral, infra over oil Financials remain the anchor. Credit growth healthy, retail participation returning, margins holding despite cost pressure, credit costs better than expected. Prefer private banks over PSUs, and mid-size private banks

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Fix the debt gap first: ICICI Pru’s July call on portfolios

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund July 2026 Market Outlook & FlexiCap The ICICI Prudential market outlook July 2026 lands on a distinctive frame: the moderate return view isn’t just about geopolitics. AI’s impact on India is genuinely unclear — and that uncertainty doesn’t resolve quickly. It’s a medium-term structural question, not near-term noise. ICICI Prudential market outlook July 2026: the structural uncertainty case This month’s ICICI Prudential market outlook July 2026 briefing comes from S. Naren, ED & CIO of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Read alongside the Kotak July outlook, the DSP July outlook and the UTI equity July outlook. Where the other AMCs converge on a large-cap and private-bank setup, S. Naren adds a structural warning most peers aren’t naming: debt has been almost entirely absent from distributor portfolios for three years. RETURN VIEW Moderate · Holds DEBT IN PORTFOLIOS Fix It Now BANKS · OIL & GAS Preferred GLOBAL INVESTING Not the Time Summary The ICICI Prudential market outlook July 2026 holds the moderate-return view for a specific reason: three concurrent uncertainties — gulf tensions with no clear resolution, a below-normal monsoon with El Niño persisting, and genuine ambiguity about AI’s impact on India. The first two could resolve quickly. The AI question is structural and doesn’t resolve in months. If geopolitics and monsoon normalize, S. Naren notes, the moderate-return view can be replaced by a higher-return view quickly. The AUM framework — Asset Allocation, Unconstrained funds, Moderate Return — holds until one asset class becomes very cheap, which isn’t today’s situation. The most important structural point of this outlook: debt has been almost entirely absent from distributor portfolios since March 2023. Three years of near-zero debt allocation is a portfolio construction error — fix it now via balanced hybrid, dynamic bond, or ultra-short-term funds. On sectors: banks (moderate risk, decent return) and oil & gas (contrarian) are preferred over technology and FMCG, which have underperformed badly in a flat market. The detail The three-part uncertainty — and which piece is structural Gulf tensions are ongoing with no clear resolution. Monsoon is below normal and El Niño is expected to persist. Both are near-term issues. The third piece is different in character: AI’s impact on India is genuinely unclear. It could help, hurt, or land somewhere in between. That’s a medium-term structural uncertainty, not near-term noise. The other two can be reassessed month by month. This one requires more time and more data before positioning can shift with any conviction. Why moderate return is the frame — not permanent bearishness The moderate-return view is a working position, not a permanent bearish stance. If geopolitics resolve and monsoon normalizes, S. Naren is clear that the view can be upgraded to a higher-return one quickly. FCNR measures are expected to support the rupee over the next six months. Earnings aren’t expected to crash — supply disruptions have had mixed effects but no broad deterioration is visible in the numbers. Asset allocation strategies have delivered exactly as designed through two and a half years of volatility. The AUM framework — how ICICI Pru positions in this environment The house framework — AUM: Asset Allocation, Unconstrained funds, Moderate Return — holds until one asset class becomes very cheap. That trigger isn’t in today’s setup. Practically, this means multi-asset and unconstrained mandates get the core allocation, with return expectations set at moderate rather than aggressive. It’s the framework designed for exactly this mix of ambiguity and no-clear-bargain-anywhere. The debt allocation error — the standout message The most important structural point of the entire briefing: debt has been almost entirely absent from distributor portfolios since March 2023. Three years of near-zero debt allocation is a portfolio construction error. The fix isn’t complicated — S. Naren points to balanced hybrid funds, dynamic bond funds, or ultra-short-term funds. Which vehicle depends on the client’s horizon, but the direction is unambiguous: get debt back into the portfolio now. Sector calls — banks and oil & gas over tech and FMCG Banks get a preferred rating on a moderate risk, decent return basis. Oil and gas is the contrarian call. Both are preferred over what S. Naren calls “constrained themes” — technology and FMCG — which have underperformed badly over the last two years in what has otherwise been a flat market. That underperformance was something almost no one predicted, and the persistence of it argues for continued caution rather than a bounce trade. IT, global, and gold — the nuances On IT: overweight in value and special-situation mandates. Underweight in growth mandates. Growth confidence isn’t high enough yet — the pricing may be fine but the earnings trajectory is unresolved. On global versus India: not the time to invest outside. Rupee at 96, global markets expensive, domestic investing superior on both valuation and currency arithmetic. On gold and silver: a role in asset allocation but not standalone. Access only through multi-asset frameworks, not as a direct position. What this means for investors The takeaway Fix the debt allocation error first. Then position sectors selectively and let the AUM framework do the heavy lifting through the structural uncertainty: Fix the debt allocation error immediately. Three years of near-zero debt allocation since March 2023 is a portfolio construction error. Route back through balanced hybrid, dynamic bond, or ultra-short-term funds based on horizon. Own banks — moderate risk, decent return. ICICI Pru’s preferred sector call for the current setup. Structural asset quality + a supportive rate cycle without needing a heroic earnings assumption. Consider oil & gas — the contrarian call. Underloved, unfashionable, and priced accordingly. Fits alongside banks as a “moderate risk, decent return” pair rather than a swing-for-the-fences bet. Skip global for now — rupee at 96, domestic superior. Global markets expensive, rupee already stretched. Domestic investing wins on both valuation and currency arithmetic. Gold and silver only through multi-asset frameworks — never standalone. IT is contextual: value and special situations, yes. Growth mandates, no. The valuation case exists; the growth confidence doesn’t. Take the exposure through mandates

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Fade the dollar, own the rupee — UTI’s July non-consensus call

UTI Mutual Fund July 2026 Equity Markets The UTI equity market July 2026 briefing opens with a sharp contrarian line: the consensus trade is long US, long dollar — and that may be exactly the wrong bet right now. UTI’s non-consensus call: be cautious on US equities and the dollar, positive on rupee assets, and lean into large-cap India with private banks as the highest-conviction position. UTI equity market July 2026: the non-consensus setup This month’s UTI equity market July 2026 briefing comes from Vetri Subramanyam, MD & CEO of UTI Mutual Fund. Read alongside the Kotak July outlook, the DSP July outlook and the Motilal Oswal July outlook, a converging AMC view emerges on Indian large-caps, private banks, and the case against the crowded US-dollar trade. US EQUITIES & DOLLAR Near a Peak INDIA LARGE-CAP Increase Allocation PRIVATE BANKS Highest Conviction RUPEE Undervalued · REER 90.8 Summary The UTI equity market July 2026 view is built on a non-consensus reading: US equities now absorb 65% of global equity benchmarks, MAG 7 hyperscalers are underperforming the S&P 500 as markets question ROI on AI capex, and the new Fed chair prefers rate hikes and less forward guidance — more volatility, higher term premiums. Fiscal indiscipline plus inflation above target makes US equities and the dollar look near a peak. The India setup is the mirror image. UTI’s proprietary equity valuation index has moved into the ‘increase equity allocation’ zone after two years of going nowhere — historically delivering a 14% average one-year return, negative only 7% of the time. INR REER at 90.8 vs a long-term fair value of 101.7 makes rupee assets structurally attractive. FY27 Nifty earnings growth expected at 14%, with 62% of Nifty 500 companies already growing revenue above 10%. Private banks are the highest-conviction call — below historical valuations, asset quality at multi-decade lows, structural compounders for three decades. That triple rarely appears together. The detail The US concentration problem — and the new Fed US equities now account for 65% of global equity benchmarks, absorbing capital that would otherwise flow elsewhere. The new Fed chair prefers rate hikes over balance sheet tools and less forward guidance — a mix that translates directly into more volatility and higher term premiums. MAG 7 hyperscalers are now underperforming the S&P 500 as markets begin to question ROI on AI capex. The internal composition of the US market is shifting even before the broader index moves. The India setup — valuation index in ‘increase’ zone UTI’s proprietary equity valuation index has moved into the increase equity allocation zone after two years of going nowhere. Historically, this signal has delivered a 14% average one-year return, negative only 7% of the time. Large-cap is close to cheap on price-to-book with ROE at the upper end of its historical range. Mid and small-cap, by contrast, sit in the expensive zone on price-to-book relative to history — the mean-reversion trade at the top of the cap curve hasn’t played out yet, but the case remains intact. FY27 Nifty earnings growth is expected at 14%, with 62% of Nifty 500 companies already growing revenue above 10%. Broad earnings support beneath a fairly-valued index. The rupee call — REER at 90.8 vs 101.7 fair value INR real effective exchange rate (REER) is at 90.8 versus a long-term fair value of 101.7 — the rupee is significantly undervalued. UTI’s framing: “We’d rather be positive on rupee versus dollar than the other way around.” The dollar trade is crowded; the rupee case has room. When mean-reversion happens in currency, rupee-denominated Indian equities benefit twice — through fundamentals and through the currency translation. Private banks — the rare triple, again Private banks are the highest-conviction call within Indian equities. They sit below long-term average valuations, with asset quality at multi-decade lows, and represent structural compounders for three decades. That triple — low valuations, historic-best asset quality, structural growth advantage — rarely appears together. It’s now the fourth AMC after Kotak, DSP, and ICICI Prudential to flag private banks as the highest-conviction Indian equity call this quarter. AI — the trade has already rotated The easy part of the AI trade is behind us. Picks-and-shovels suppliers — memory chips, semiconductors — are up 101% year-to-date, while hyperscalers are up just 1.74%. The market has moved the money from the platforms to the infrastructure that enables them. Anyone assuming the AI trade is still concentrated in the MAG 7 is looking at the wrong screen. On monsoon — not a portfolio call Historical data shows no clear pattern linking monsoon outcomes with equity markets or GDP growth. It’s a headline risk to be aware of, but not a positioning call in the portfolio. Where other AMCs this month have flagged monsoon as a near-term risk, UTI is clear: the data doesn’t support treating it as a portfolio input. What this means for investors The takeaway Fade the consensus trade, own the mean-reversion at both ends — Indian large-cap and the rupee. The AI easy money is behind us; the private-bank triple is still in front: Fade the consensus: US equities and the dollar. Fiscal indiscipline, inflation above target, and a new Fed adding uncertainty. Both appear near a peak — reduce exposure rather than add. Increase Indian large-cap allocation. UTI’s valuation index is in the ‘increase’ zone — historically 14% average one-year return, negative only 7% of the time. Cheap price-to-book with ROE at the upper end of the range. Own the private-bank triple. Below long-term valuations, multi-decade-low NPAs, three-decade structural compounders. Fourth AMC this quarter to flag it as highest conviction — worth listening. Position for a rupee mean-reversion. INR REER at 90.8 vs 101.7 fair value — rupee significantly undervalued. Prefer rupee assets over dollar exposure while the gap remains this wide. The easy AI money is behind us. Picks-and-shovels (chips, semis) up 101% YTD vs hyperscalers up 1.74%. Don’t assume the AI trade is still where headlines say it is — the money has already rotated.

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18.45% more gold, same asset: Kotak’s LRS arbitrage and the rest of the July call

Kotak Mutual Fund July 2026 Market Outlook The Kotak market outlook July 2026 makes a simple case: India’s equity market is at fair value in aggregate — but the opportunity is in the dispersion, not the index. Kotak’s call: overweight mid-caps for the earnings edge, private banks as the highest conviction position, and gold with a specific 18.45% LRS arbitrage. Kotak market outlook July 2026: what changed this month This month’s Kotak market outlook July 2026 briefing from Nilesh Shah, MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, distils three concrete calls: mid-caps for the earnings edge, private banks as the highest-conviction position, and a specific 18.45% gold LRS arbitrage. Read alongside the DSP July outlook and the Motilal Oswal July outlook, a converging AMC view on Indian large-caps and private banks becomes visible. NIFTY VALUATION 18.4 PE · Fair Value MID-CAPS Overweight PRIVATE BANKS Highest Conviction GOLD Own It Summary Kotak reads the Nifty at 18.4 PE versus a historical average of 18.7 — effectively fair value. The trade, then, is dispersion inside the index, not the index itself. The Kotak market outlook July 2026 is straightforward on positioning: mid-caps overweight on a 16–18% expected FY27 earnings edge over large-cap’s 10–11%, and private banks as the highest-conviction call — low valuations, 17% credit growth, NPAs at historical lows, rate cut cycle bottoming — a triple that rarely appears together. Gold gets a specific action: 45% of central banks plan to increase holdings per the WGC survey; resident Indians can access 18.45% more gold via LRS global ETFs by avoiding 15% import duty and 3.45% GST. In debt, the RBI has signalled no rate hikes; Income Plus Arbitrage is recommended for conservative investors with a 2-year-plus horizon, with the 10-year G-Sec range expected at 6.60–6.80%. Near-term risks: a monsoon 40% below normal in June and roughly ₹4.3 lakh crore of fiscal war-shock pressure. The detail The setup — fair value at the index, dispersion inside it Large-cap Nifty PE sits at 18.4 versus a historical average of 18.7 — effectively at fair value. That means the index itself doesn’t offer a compelling entry, but the segments below it do. Kotak’s framing is straightforward: don’t buy the index, buy the dispersion within it. The rupee on a real effective exchange rate (REER) basis is now below the Chinese Yuan for the first time since April 2023 — a structural export tailwind that supports the broader equity thesis. Near-term risks — monsoon and fiscal war-shock Monsoon is the most immediate concern. June came in 40% below normal, with central India at a 59% deficit. El Niño is expected to intensify through August and September. The fiscal war-shock adds up to roughly ₹4.3 lakh crore in pressure across excise cuts, fertilizer and LPG subsidies, and tax shortfalls — manageable but real. FPI return is still a slow burn: EM and Asia-dedicated funds remain structurally underweight India. The flow story — BOP surplus and FPI stabilisation A BOP surplus is expected in FY27 after a two-year gap — $50–75 billion in FCNR, ECB and FPI debt flows coming over the next 3–6 months. FPI selling intensity has come down and occasional buying has started. The set-up isn’t a flow explosion — it’s a flow stabilisation. Enough to change the pressure on the currency and shift the perception of India’s external position, without needing a full FII reversal to work. Cap-size calls — mid-caps overweight, small-caps trimmed Mid-cap overweight on earnings conviction — 16–18% growth expected for FY27 versus 10–11% for large-cap justifies the selective premium. Large-cap equal weight. Valuations are at the historical average and earnings growth is moderate — no reason to overweight, no reason to underweight. Small-cap marginally underweight. The monsoon and Q1 oil impact are more likely to show up here first than in more diversified segments. Sector picks — private banks the conviction, IT selective Private banks are the highest-conviction call. Low valuations, strong earnings (credit growth at 17%), NPAs at historical lows, and the rate-cut cycle bottoming — a triple that rarely appears together. IT: equal weight to slightly underweight. Valuations are attractive (15–20x PE, dividend yield 5–6%), but large-cap IT can only realistically deliver 3–6% dollar revenue growth. Prefer mid-cap IT for market-share gains. Gold — own it, and there’s a specific arbitrage Own gold. 45% of central banks plan to increase holdings per the World Gold Council survey. When central banks buy, you buy. The specific trade for resident Indians: access 18.45% more gold via LRS global ETFs by avoiding 15% import duty and 3.45% GST. Same asset, materially better entry. Fixed income — no hikes signalled, Income Plus Arbitrage the pick The RBI has signalled no rate hikes. The 10-year G-Sec range is expected at 6.60–6.80%. Income Plus Arbitrage is recommended for conservative investors with a 2-year-plus horizon — combining the short-term-fund experience on the debt leg with the tax-efficient arbitrage sleeve for a cleaner after-tax outcome. What this means for investors The takeaway Own the dispersion, not the index. Kotak’s setup translates into specific positions across cap sizes, sectors, and asset classes: Overweight mid-caps for the earnings edge. 16–18% expected FY27 earnings growth versus 10–11% for large-cap — enough to justify a selective premium. The index is at fair value; mid-cap earnings aren’t. Highest conviction: private banks. Low valuations, 17% credit growth, historically-low NPAs, and the rate-cut cycle bottoming — a rare four-way alignment. Position for it while it holds. Own gold — and use the LRS arbitrage. Central banks are buying (45% plan to increase per WGC). Resident Indians can access 18.45% more gold via LRS global ETFs by avoiding 15% import duty + 3.45% GST. Same asset, better entry. Trim small-caps; be selective on IT. Small-caps take the monsoon and Q1 oil impact first. Large-cap IT can only deliver 3–6% dollar revenue growth — prefer mid-cap IT for market-share gains. In debt: Income Plus Arbitrage for 2+ year horizons. RBI has signalled no rate hikes; 10-year G-Sec range expected at 6.60–6.80%. Income

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Buy rupee assets: DSP’s July call at both ends of the risk spectrum

DSP Mutual Fund July 2026 Netra Webinar The DSP market outlook July 2026 opens with a simple line: the stress narrative on India was built at exactly the wrong time. The macro has already turned. Buy rupee assets — large-cap equities and duration bonds are the two clearest expressions of the call. And within equities, private banks look like a rare triple. DSP market outlook July 2026: the mean-reversion setup This month’s DSP market outlook July 2026 comes from Sahil Kapoor, Head of Products & Market Strategist at DSP Mutual Fund. Read alongside the Kotak July outlook and the Motilal Oswal July outlook, a converging AMC view emerges: private banks as the highest-conviction Indian equity call, and India itself as the natural mean-reversion trade within EM. RUPEE ASSETS Buy LARGE-CAP SHARE Record Low 17% DURATION Own It IT · GOLD · SILVER Wait / Neutral Summary The DSP market outlook July 2026 argues the India-stress narrative was built at exactly the wrong time. In 30 days, oil moved from projections of a $220 billion trade deficit to $68–70, the NRI deposit scheme brought $6 billion in FPI debt inflows in a single month, and the India–US inflation differential collapsed from 4% to 50 basis points. Large-cap market cap share sits at a record-low 17%, with two-thirds of FII selling concentrated in the top 10 stocks — all now trading below their 10-year average multiples while ROE remains high. The two clearest expressions of the call: large-cap equities and duration bonds. Within equities, private banks are the rare triple — low valuations, 12–20% earnings growth, NPAs at historical lows. In debt, real rates at 2.5% versus an RBI target of 100 bps give duration a dual path — RBI cuts, or growth disappoints. Either works. IT: watch, don’t act. Gold and silver: neutral, not overweight. The detail The 30-day macro reversal — narrative vs data On 1st June 2026, India’s balance of payments looked precarious — oil trade deficit projected at $220 billion, FPI outflows at $16 billion for the year, rupee under pressure. Thirty days later, oil is at $68–70, the NRI deposit scheme has brought in $6 billion in FPI debt inflows in a month, and the rupee real effective exchange rate has hit a level seen only twice this century — GFC and 2013. The India–US inflation differential that underpins the structural rupee-depreciation call has collapsed from 4% to 50 basis points. The narrative hasn’t caught up with the data yet. Buy rupee assets — the setup in large-caps Large-cap market cap share has dropped to a record low of 17%, with two-thirds of all FII selling concentrated in the top 10 stocks — all of which are now trading below their 10-year average multiples while ROE remains high. The setup is straightforward: the segment most sold by foreign capital is also the segment where fundamentals have held. That’s the mean-reversion trade at the top of the market cap curve. Private banks — a rare triple Within large-caps, private banks stand out. They present a rare triple: low valuations, earnings growth of 12–20%, and NPAs at historical lows. This combination rarely appears together. Historically, low valuations usually come with weak earnings or credit concerns. Getting all three at once is unusual — and worth positioning for. Sector calls — cement in, IT wait Cement is a clean proxy for construction and infrastructure activity. Margins are at cyclical lows, input costs are falling, and government capex is picking up as we enter the second half of the political term. IT: watch, not act. The valuation case is there — PE below 14x versus a 10-year average of 18–19x, and FCF yield near 7%. But the growth case is not settled. GCC market share gains, AI disruption still in narrative but not yet in numbers, and headcount stagnation since FY22 are structural, not cyclical. Wait for the growth signal before adding. Duration — the dual path in debt In debt, duration makes sense — either RBI cuts and bonds rally, or growth disappoints and rates fall on their own. Both paths favour duration. Real rates are running at 2.5% against an RBI historical target of 100 basis points — among the highest in emerging markets. That’s structural room for rates to move lower, regardless of the trigger. India as the EM mean-reversion trade India after 18 months of underperformance is the natural mean-reversion trade within EM as Korea and Taiwan concentration reaches dot-com era price-to-book levels. Concentration at that level, historically, does not end well. When it unwinds, the capital tends to look for the cheapest-with-fundamentals story left standing. India, on DSP’s read, is that story. Gold and silver — neutral, not overweight Gold and silver: neutral, not overweight. DSP’s five-point framework shows only one of five conditions close to being met. Jewelry, central bank, and ETF demand drivers are all sideways or falling — making a quick return to January 2026 highs unlikely. The froth from January 2026 is gone, but the case for a large overweight is not yet there. What this means for investors The takeaway Buy the mean-reversion trade at both ends of the risk spectrum — large-caps for equity, duration for debt. Skip the sectors where the narrative is louder than the numbers: Buy rupee assets — large-caps and duration. The two clearest expressions of the mean-reversion call. Large-caps at record-low market cap share with intact ROE; duration with a dual path (RBI cut or growth disappoint — both work). Own the rare triple in private banks. Low valuations + 12–20% earnings growth + NPAs at historical lows. This combination rarely appears together — worth positioning for while it’s there. Add cement for the capex cycle. Cyclical-low margins, falling input costs, and government capex picking up in the second half of the political term. A clean proxy for construction and infra activity. Own duration in debt. Real rates at 2.5% versus an RBI target of 100 bps give structural room to move lower. Duration

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Liquidity, not rate cuts: UTI’s July fixed income call is different from the consensus

UTI Mutual Fund July 2026 Fixed Income The war-peak stress on Indian fixed income has reversed faster than expected. The question now is where on the curve to be — and the answer isn’t where the consensus is going. It’s a liquidity call, not a rate-cut call. FRONT-TO-MIDDLE Overweight DURATION Underweight LIQUIDITY INFLOW ₹5 Lakh Cr FED MARKET READ Overhawkish Summary The war-peak stress on Indian fixed income has unwound quickly — rate hike expectations have been cut from 100–150 bps to 50–75, inflation from 5–5.5% to 4.5–5%, the INR has stabilised, and the current account deficit is shrinking. UTI’s call: own the front-to-middle of the curve (1–5 year) — money market, low duration, short-term and corporate bond funds. The reason isn’t a rate-cut thesis. It’s a liquidity thesis: roughly ₹5 lakh crores of FCNR and ECB inflows over the next three months will reduce banks’ need to issue high-cost CDs, compress the short end, and benefit the 1–5 year segment directly. Don’t chase duration — oil moving from $70 to $78 in 3–4 days shows why. On the Fed, UTI thinks the market is over-reading Kevin Walsh as hawkish. The detail The macro reversal — from war-peak stress to a working setup The macro picture has reversed sharply from war-peak stress. Rate hike expectations have been cut from 100–150 basis points to 50–75. Inflation expectations have come down from 5–5.5% to 4.5–5%. The INR has stabilised. The current account deficit is shrinking as oil normalises at $70–75. More importantly, the removal of withholding tax and capital gains tax for foreign investors on Indian bonds has opened the pathway to Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index inclusion — which, if it happens, brings in structural all-weather flows rather than cyclical EM money. The liquidity windfall — ₹5 lakh crores incoming A liquidity windfall is coming. FCNR inflows and offshore borrowing by state-owned entities are expected to bring roughly ₹5 lakh crores into the banking system over the next 3 months — far more than was anticipated at the start of the year. This is the anchor of UTI’s positioning: liquidity of this size doesn’t need a rate cut to work through the curve. It reshapes bank funding needs directly. Why front-to-middle wins — a liquidity call, not a rate-cut call The front-to-middle of the curve — money market, low duration, short-term and corporate bond funds — is where the opportunity sits right now, and for a specific reason: the incoming FCNR and ECB liquidity will reduce banks’ need to issue high-cost CDs, compress the short end, and benefit the 1–5 year segment directly. This is a liquidity-driven call, not a rate-cut call — and it’s more durable for that reason. It doesn’t require a specific RBI decision to work. Why the long end still isn’t safe Don’t chase duration yet. UTI stayed underweight duration even when the 10-year fell from 7.10 to 6.75 — and oil moving back to $78 in days shows why. Oil remains volatile — it moved from $70 to $78 in just 3–4 days even after the ceasefire, which means the long end of the curve could spike again if geopolitics flare up. Monsoon so far has been the fifth weakest June since 1901, with actual rainfall 40% below IMD’s forecast of 8% below normal — a seasonal inflation spike of 3–4 months is likely before winter arrivals bring relief. Wait for more conviction on oil before extending duration meaningfully. On the Fed — the market is assuming the worst The new Fed chair Kevin Walsh is being read by the market as unambiguously hawkish, pushing out rate cut expectations. UTI’s view: the market is assuming the worst from Walsh’s task forces. AI adoption is long-term disinflationary — productivity gains take time but they are real — and the committee recommendations are more likely to be balanced than the market currently prices. Rate cut expectations being pushed out may itself get repriced when the task force recommendations come back more balanced than feared. Portfolio expressions by horizon For investors with more than 2 years: income plus arbitrage offers a favourable combination — short-term fund experience on 65% of the portfolio, stable arbitrage on 35%, and tax treatment at 12.5% rather than marginal rate. For investors with 3–12 months: money market and low duration funds are the cleaner expression of the liquidity tailwind. What this means for investors The takeaway Own the front-to-middle for a specific, mechanical reason — the ₹5 lakh crore liquidity working through the banking system. Don’t reach for duration just because the war-peak has passed: Own the front-to-middle of the curve. Money market, low duration, short-term and corporate bond funds — the 1–5 year segment benefits directly from incoming FCNR and ECB liquidity compressing the short end. Don’t chase duration yet. The 10-year has already fallen from 7.10 to 6.75, and oil moving back to $78 in days shows the long end is still exposed. Wait for more conviction on oil before extending duration. Horizon > 2 years: consider income + arbitrage. A 65/35 split — short-term fund experience on 65%, stable arbitrage on 35% — with 12.5% tax treatment rather than marginal rate. A favourable combination for the mid-horizon investor. Horizon 3–12 months: money market and low duration. The cleanest way to express the liquidity tailwind — short enough to sidestep duration risk, long enough to capture the compression benefit. Don’t over-price the Fed hawk story. The market is assuming the worst from Walsh. If task force recommendations come back balanced, rate-cut expectations get repriced — a risk to the market’s current positioning, not to UTI’s. Fixed Income UTI Mutual Fund Short Duration Liquidity Windfall FCNR & ECB Yield Curve Bloomberg Index Inclusion July 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Fundspeak

Indian equities at a 10-year low premium — and earnings kept growing through it

Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund July 2026 Monthly Market Outlook The Motilal Oswal market outlook July 2026 opens with a striking data point: Indian equities at a 10-year low premium to emerging markets — and earnings kept growing through it. That’s the setup. Oil is the unlock. While you wait for it, it’s time for alpha over beta. Motilal Oswal market outlook July 2026: the setup and the wait This month’s Motilal Oswal market outlook July 2026 briefing comes from Prateek Agrawal, CIO of Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund. Read alongside the Kotak July outlook and the DSP July outlook, a converging AMC view emerges on Indian large-caps at derated valuations while earnings compound. EM VALUATION PREMIUM 10-Year Low CRUDE Below $80 INR Stabilising STRATEGY Alpha over Beta Summary The Motilal Oswal market outlook July 2026 sits on a striking observation: Indian equities have been among the worst-performing asset classes over the past 18 months — not because earnings deteriorated (they didn’t), but because of external pressure from INR depreciation, high oil, and sustained FPI selling. The valuation premium to emerging markets is now at a 10-year low. Crude has already retraced below $80, and the NRI deposit scheme is expected to bring strong USD inflows that may have arrested INR depreciation — the very reason FPIs were selling. A drop in oil to February levels could take large-cap indices back to February levels, and from there, earnings do the work. While waiting for that unlock, Motilal Oswal’s framework is alpha over beta — value migration into spaces where growth is high and sustains longer: EVs, defense, renewables and BESS, and power and data centres riding AI demand. The detail The setup — earnings held, prices didn’t Indian equities have been among the worst-performing asset classes over the past 18 months — not because earnings deteriorated, they didn’t, but because of external pressure: INR depreciation, high oil, and sustained FPI selling. The result is a valuation premium to emerging markets now at a 10-year low. The setup is a market that’s been derated on flows, not fundamentals. The unlock — oil, INR, and what happens next Crude has already retraced below $80, a sustainable level for an economy like India. The NRI deposit scheme is expected to bring in strong USD inflows — which may have arrested the INR depreciation that was one of the key reasons FPIs were selling. A stable to strengthening INR is a factor foreign investors will re-evaluate Indian assets against. The specific unlock: a drop in oil to February levels may take large-cap indices back to February levels — and from there, earnings do the work. What could delay the unlock The Iran-US agreement still needs to materialize; the Strait of Hormuz remains a risk if it doesn’t. A monsoon shortfall severe enough to hit crops, fertilizer demand and government finances adds another layer of pressure on an already stretched fiscal position. None of these disqualify the thesis. They shape the timing. Alpha over beta — where value is migrating While you wait for the unlock, Motilal Oswal’s view is that it is time for alpha over beta. The framework is value migration — spaces where growth is high and sustains longer. Today that means: EVs over ICE vehicles, defense indigenization, renewables and BESS (battery energy storage systems), and power and data centres riding AI-driven demand. These are the sectors where the migration story is still early enough for growth to compound. What we are avoiding Spaces where the migration story is in its mature or disrupted phase are being avoided: traditional IT, where AI is rewriting the offshoring thesis, and PSU bank share gains, where the movement has slowed. The rule is the same on both sides — own where growth compounds; avoid where the thesis has already played out. A structural tailwind for alpha One structural tailwind being watched: large-caps are raising equity capital this cycle, unlike last year when mid and small caps dominated issuance. A shift in the composition of capital raising may support broader market performance and create a tailwind for alpha — active managers can position for the quality end without giving up growth. What this means for investors The takeaway Own the value migration while you wait for the oil-and-INR unlock — and don’t rely on the index to do the work: Tilt toward alpha, not beta. Passive index exposure captures the derated market, but active management is where the value-migration themes get owned. In this setup, alpha does more of the work than beta. Own the value-migration themes. EVs, defense indigenization, renewables and BESS, power and data centres — the spaces where growth is high and sustains longer than the average sector. Avoid the mature or disrupted stories. Traditional IT is being rewritten by AI; PSU bank share gains have slowed. When the migration is over, so is the alpha. Watch oil, INR, and the Strait of Hormuz. These are the timing variables. The setup is compelling; the trigger for the beta re-rating depends on how they resolve. Stay in the market, not just adjacent to it. The valuation premium is at a 10-year low with earnings intact — that’s a rare setup. Waiting on the sidelines risks missing the re-rating that follows the unlock. The Motilal Oswal market outlook July 2026 lines up alongside a broader converging AMC theme. Both Kotak and DSP flag Indian large-caps as the setup and private banks as the highest-conviction sector call. Motilal Oswal adds the alpha-over-beta framing while everyone waits for the oil unlock. For the underlying regulatory framework governing all three, see the Association of Mutual Funds in India. Equity Motilal Oswal AMC Market Outlook Alpha over Beta Value Migration EVs & Defense Renewables & BESS July 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Large-cap isn’t a story call — it’s a flow call

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund June 2026 Market Outlook & SIF Large-cap isn’t a story call — it’s a flow call. ICICI Pru leans large-cap because FIIs have sold continuously for 20 months while local SIPs flow into mid- and small-caps. That makes it a value setup. The missing piece is the trigger. LARGE CAPS Better Value FII FLOWS 20 Months of Selling CORE ALLOCATION Hybrid & Multi-Asset SIF Hybrid, Not Insurance Summary ICICI Pru’s June view leans into large-cap, and the reasoning is candid — it isn’t a fundamentals thesis, it’s a flow story. FIIs have sold large-cap continuously for 20 months while local SIPs keep flowing into mid- and small-caps. That makes large-cap the better-value segment, but the trigger for a re-rating is still missing. The AMC was also direct on SIF: it belongs with hybrid funds, not insurance products like LIC — it carries real loss-of-capital and liquidity risk. The broader house view is unchanged: asset allocation first, hybrid and multi-asset for the core, ultra-short and dynamic bond funds in debt, and gold only through multi-asset exposure. Returns from here are genuinely unpredictable — the discipline is to allocate, invest in hybrids, and leave it. The detail The large-cap call — and why it’s a flow story ICICI Pru’s June view leans into large-cap, and the reasoning given is candid: it isn’t a fundamentals thesis, it’s that FIIs have sold large-cap continuously for 20 months, across banks, oil & gas, auto, FMCG and IT — while local SIPs keep flowing into mid- and small-cap instead. That makes large-cap the better-value segment of the three: sustained, broad outflows are a value setup, not a story bet. It doesn’t need a war-ending or an oil-price catalyst to re-rate — only a reversal in flows. What’s missing — the trigger FIIs left because a global AI-capex boom has been pulling capital to Korea and Taiwan, with no fixed end date — only once a wave of IPOs (SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAI) absorbs that boom. A forecast monsoon shortfall and high oil add further reasons the outflow could persist. Until flows actually turn, “cheap because money left” is a valuation observation, not yet a re-rating thesis. SIF — the right comparison The AMC was clear that SIF (Specialised Investment Fund) shouldn’t be compared to insurance like LIC — it belongs with hybrid funds, not capital-protection products. SIF carries real loss-of-capital and liquidity risk. The right comparison is other hybrids, not a guaranteed-return product. Investors evaluating SIF should benchmark it against the hybrid and multi-asset shelf, not against insurance or fixed-return alternatives. The broader house view Beyond the large-cap call, the AMC’s broader house view stays consistent: Asset allocation first, through hybrid and multi-asset funds. In debt, ultra-short/short-term funds and all-seasons dynamic bond funds. Gold only through multi-asset exposure, not standalone. The closing point is the most important one — returns from here are genuinely unpredictable. The discipline is to do the allocation, invest in hybrids, and leave it. What this means for investors The takeaway Treat large-cap as a value setup, not a directional bet — and let asset allocation do the heavy lifting: Lean toward large-cap, but know what you’re betting on. The case is a flow reversal, not a fundamentals story — own the segment for the value, not because a catalyst is imminent. Don’t crowd into mid- and small-caps via SIPs by default. Local flows have pushed these segments higher while FIIs sold the larger names — the risk-reward is now skewed against the crowded trade. Anchor the portfolio in hybrid and multi-asset. When returns are genuinely unpredictable, the asset allocation framework does more of the work than any single sector or cap-size call. In debt, stay short and flexible. Ultra-short and short-term funds for predictability; all-seasons dynamic bond funds for tactical positioning across the curve. Benchmark SIF correctly. Compare it against the hybrid shelf, not against LIC or capital-protection products. The risk profile is hybrid, not insurance. Equity ICICI Prudential Large Cap FII Flows SIF Hybrid Funds Multi-Asset June 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Mispricing over narrative: UTI’s June read on equity, innovation, and the crowded trade

UTI Mutual Fund June 2026 Equity Markets Two speakers, one message: don’t pay for the hype — pay for what’s mispriced. UTI’s June equity webinar argues the same discipline from opposite ends of the risk spectrum, with large-cap quality-growth on one side and high-optionality innovation on the other. US AI CONCENTRATION ~40% · Blinking Orange INDIA LARGE CAPS Raise Allocation SMALL & MID CAPS Crowded RUPEE Undervalued Summary On paper, UTI’s June equity webinar had two unrelated halves — Vetri Subramanyam on the macro-outlook, Nitan Jain on the UTI Innovation Fund. In substance, both argue the same thing from opposite ends of the risk spectrum: ignore the crowded narrative, look for what the market has mispriced. The macro half flags AI concentration in the US and crowded small- and mid-caps in India, while pointing to large-cap quality-growth as the better-positioned corner. The innovation half makes the same case in higher-risk form — owning businesses where the market pays for today’s engine and ignores the next one. Valuations and optionality are two faces of the same discipline: mispricing over narrative. The detail The macro half — concentration is the signal UTI flags that AI-linked names are now around 40% of the US market — concentration that, in past cycles, has tended to precede sharp reversals. They call it a “blinking orange” signal, not a timing tool. India is the mirror image: the crowd sits in expensive small- and mid-caps, while large-caps have entered the zone UTI’s own valuation indicator links to raising equity allocation — historically followed by positive one-year returns about 93% of the time. A rupee that now screens as undervalued caps the currency risk that usually drives foreign selling. The read: the crowded trades carry more risk than reward, and large-cap quality-growth is the better-positioned corner. The innovation half — same discipline, higher risk The UTI Innovation Fund is easy to mistake for an AI bet. The real thesis is optionality — owning businesses where the market pays for today’s engine and ignores the next one. UTI’s example: Eternal (formerly Zomato). At listing, the quick-commerce arm was given negative value; today, on UTI’s reading, it’s worth more per share than food delivery itself. It’s bought with discipline — about 27 stocks from a 65–70 name universe, 96% active share (how far a fund strays from its benchmark) — so it’s bottom-up, not an index in disguise. The honest caveat on innovation UTI is upfront about the risk profile of the Innovation Fund: early-stage, often loss-making businesses, large NAV swings, and only sensible for a 10-year-plus horizon. Optionality cuts both ways. The thesis only works when investors can sit through volatility long enough for the second engine to be priced in by the market. The throughline Valuations and optionality are two faces of the same discipline: mispricing over narrative. The part of the market most crowded into a story is rarely the part best-positioned from here. Whether the call is “rotate from small-mid to large-cap” or “own the second engine the market hasn’t priced,” the underlying instruction is the same. What this means for investors The takeaway Respond to mispricing, not headlines — at both ends of your portfolio: Rotate the core toward large-cap quality-growth. UTI’s valuation indicator now signals “raise allocation” — historically followed by positive one-year returns about 93% of the time. Trim the crowded trades. Expensive small- and mid-caps in India and AI concentration in the US both flash the same warning — crowded narratives carry more risk than reward. Treat innovation as a satellite, not a substitute. The Innovation Fund makes sense only as a small allocation alongside a quality core — and only if you can sit through 10+ years of volatility. Match horizon to product, honestly. Optionality-led strategies need a true 10-year-plus runway. If your horizon is shorter, stick with the macro half of the message — quality-growth at sensible valuations. Hold the discipline across both ends. Whether the position is large-cap rotation or a high-optionality satellite, the rule is the same — respond to mispricing, ignore the headline. Equity UTI Mutual Fund Large Cap Innovation Fund Optionality Valuation AI Concentration June 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not constitute investment advice.

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Fundspeak

Why short duration is an active call, not a hideout: UTI’s June fixed-income view

UTI Mutual Fund June 2026 Fixed Income Short-duration bonds: the safe call, or the smart one? With the repo at 5.25% and the rate-cut cycle effectively over, UTI’s 1–5 year tilt isn’t just defensive — it’s where you’re paid fairly for the risk you take. REPO RATE 5.25% · On Hold RATE-CUT CYCLE Effectively Over 1–5 YEAR SEGMENT Active Choice LONG DURATION Avoid Summary UTI’s June fixed-income view comes down to one position: stay at the front-to-middle of the yield curve — the 1–5 year segment — and avoid long-duration bets. The AMC frames it as caution: wait for clarity on inflation and oil before stretching duration. The conclusion looks reasonable; it’s the framing that may be worth a closer look. With the RBI repo rate at 5.25% and the rate-cut cycle effectively over, long bonds have lost their main reason to rally. Short duration here isn’t a holding pattern — it’s an active choice to collect steady carry where you’re paid fairly for the risk you take. The detail UTI’s stated view UTI’s June fixed-income view comes down to one position: stay at the front-to-middle of the yield curve — the 1–5 year segment — and avoid long-duration bets. The AMC frames it as caution: wait for clarity on inflation and oil before stretching duration. The conclusion looks reasonable. It’s the framing that may be worth a closer look. Why the long end has lost its rally case With the RBI repo rate at 5.25% and the rate-cut cycle effectively over, long bonds have lost their main reason to rally — there’s no falling-rate tailwind left to deliver capital gains. What remains at the long end is the risk: heavy government borrowing supply, plus oil and inflation overhang. So the long end is asking investors to take real risk for very little extra yield over the short end. That appears to be a less attractive trade. Why short duration wins right now Short duration wins right now — not as a defensive hideout, but because it’s where you’re paid fairly for the risk you take. You collect the carry, stay liquid, and avoid a duration bet with limited upside catalyst. Steady income at the front of the curve, without taking on the risks sitting at the long end. The one scenario that flips this If oil stays soft after the ceasefire and inflation undershoots, the RBI could surprise with another cut — the only case that rewards extending duration. On today’s odds, that appears to be a low-probability event. What this means for investors The takeaway Short duration here is an active choice, not a holding pattern. Here’s how that translates into portfolio action: Take the steady income at the front of the curve. The 1–5 year segment is where you’re paid fairly for the risk — collect the carry, stay liquid. Avoid the long end. With the rate-cut cycle effectively over, long bonds offer little upside catalyst — but carry real risk from supply, oil, and inflation overhang. Treat duration as an active call, not a default. Short duration here is a deliberate position — not a defensive hideout while waiting for clarity. Watch one scenario for a duration switch. If oil stays soft and inflation undershoots, an RBI surprise cut would reward extending duration — but on today’s odds, that’s a low-probability event. Match duration to your horizon. Align fund choices with your time horizon — accrual and short-duration funds suit shorter goals; flexible bond strategies allow tactical positioning. Fixed Income UTI Mutual Fund Short Duration Yield Curve RBI Policy Carry Trade June 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Diversify, don’t react: Kotak’s June playbook on equities, gold and multi-asset

Kotak Mutual Fund 08 June 2026 Market Outlook Kotak Mutual Fund stays neutral on equities, overweight on gold, and leans on multi-asset and flexicap strategies — a diversification-first stance for a market still wrestling with crude, currency, and monsoon risk. EQUITY STANCE Neutral GOLD Overweight MID CAPS Marginal OW SMALL CAPS Underweight Summary Kotak Mutual Fund maintains a neutral stance on equities and an overweight position on gold, with a trading allocation to silver. Within equities, the AMC is marginally overweight on mid-caps, equal-weight on large-caps, and underweight on small-caps. It remains constructive on financial services, consumption, e-commerce, healthcare, auto, cement, and infrastructure. Multi-asset, multicap, and flexicap strategies are highlighted as suitable approaches in the current environment, with the broader message being diversification, SIP discipline, and risk management over short-term reactions. The detail Macroeconomic outlook Kotak Mutual Fund highlighted that global markets continue to be influenced by geopolitical tensions, elevated commodity prices, rising bond yields, and currency volatility. The US economy remains relatively resilient against this backdrop. For India, the key challenges include high crude oil prices, rupee weakness, trade deficit concerns, and monsoon-related uncertainty — a mix that argues for diversification rather than concentrated positioning. Market & asset allocation view The AMC maintains a neutral stance on equities, while remaining overweight on gold and maintaining a trading allocation to silver. Within equities, Kotak is marginally overweight on mid-caps, equal-weight on large-caps, and underweight on small-caps — a tilt toward quality and a reluctance to chase the most richly priced segment of the market. Sectors & strategies The AMC remains constructive on financial services, consumption, e-commerce, healthcare, auto, cement, and infrastructure — a mix of structural growth and cyclical recovery themes. Multi-asset allocation, multicap, and flexicap strategies were highlighted as suitable approaches in the current environment — vehicles that allow active managers to navigate across market caps and asset classes as conditions evolve. Key risks to monitor The principal risks identified are sustained high crude oil prices, further rupee weakness, a widening trade deficit, and monsoon outcomes — factors that could each independently weigh on currency, inflation, and rural consumption. What this means for investors Action points Kotak’s guidance for navigating June 2026 centres on diversification, SIP discipline, and treating gold as a portfolio building block — not a tactical trade: Maintain a diversified asset allocation approach. Spread exposure across equity, debt, and gold rather than concentrating in any single asset. Continue SIPs and long-term investing. Systematic, disciplined participation smooths out entry timing and lets compounding do the work. Use multi-asset, multicap, or flexicap strategies. These vehicles allow active managers to shift across asset classes and market caps as conditions evolve. Consider gold as part of portfolio allocation. Beyond a tactical hedge, gold can serve as a structural diversifier in a portfolio facing currency and geopolitical risks. Focus on risk management over short-term moves. Position-sizing, diversification, and asset allocation matter more than reacting to daily news flow. Asset Allocation Kotak Mutual Fund Market Outlook Gold Multi-Asset Flexicap Mid & Small Caps June 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Fundspeak

Weak macro, broader markets: where Motilal Oswal sees the next opportunity

Motilal Oswal Asset Management 01 June 2026 Monthly Market Outlook Motilal Oswal sees weak macro as an opportunity — mid & small caps may have already absorbed the worst of FPI selling, and broader markets are showing stronger earnings growth than narrow large-cap indices. MACRO VIEW Weak = Opportunity MID & SMALL CAPS Worst Likely Past BROADER MARKETS Earnings Edge STRATEGY Active Preferred Summary Motilal Oswal Asset Management sees the current weak macro backdrop as an opportunity rather than a reason for caution. The AMC believes mid and small caps have likely already absorbed the worst of FPI ownership decline, while broader markets continue to deliver stronger earnings growth than narrow large-cap indices. Growth opportunities are visible across both new-economy themes — EVs, EMS, renewables, defence, digital platforms — and cyclical recovery plays such as capital markets, select NBFCs, and metals & mining. The AMC favours active strategies and broader market exposure, with the key risk to monitor being prolonged elevated crude prices. The detail Macroeconomic outlook Motilal Oswal Asset Management highlighted that weak macro may present opportunities for investors. The current environment is being shaped by geopolitics-led high oil prices, pressure on forex reserves, FPI selling, and INR depreciation. These pressures are visible across markets — but, in the AMC’s view, the very conditions creating short-term noise are also setting up the opportunity for selective, disciplined entry into well-positioned segments. Market & equity view The AMC noted that mid and small caps may have already seen the worst of FPI ownership decline, suggesting the heaviest selling pressure in these segments may be behind us. Broader markets are also showing stronger earnings growth compared to narrow large-cap indices — reinforcing the case for looking beyond the top-100 names. Growth opportunities Motilal Oswal sees opportunities across a wide set of themes: EVs, EMS, renewables, defence, recycling, capital markets, select NBFCs, digital platforms, electronics, luxury, metals & mining, and select software companies. The mix spans both structural new-economy growth and cyclical recovery plays — pointing to an environment where stock and sector selection matter more than passive index exposure. Key risk to monitor The principal risk identified by the AMC is the possibility of high oil prices sustaining for longer, which would extend pressure on the currency, current account, and inflation — and could change the macro setup more durably than a transient shock. What this means for investors Action points Motilal Oswal’s guidance for navigating June 2026 centres on leaning into broader markets, favouring active strategies, and not flinching at short-term macro noise: Favour active mutual fund strategies. In an environment where stock selection drives returns, active management has an edge over passive index exposure. Consider broader market opportunities. Earnings growth remains stronger outside narrow large-cap indices — broader exposure may be where the next leg of returns comes from. Stay invested in growth-oriented themes. EVs, EMS, renewables, defence, digital platforms, and other structural growth segments offer long-term potential. Avoid reacting to short-term macro weakness. The very pressures creating noise today may be setting up the opportunity — let the framework do the work. Monitor the key risk of elevated oil sustaining longer. Prolonged high crude prices would extend currency, current account, and inflation pressures. Equity Motilal Oswal AMC Market Outlook Mid & Small Caps Active Strategies Growth Themes June 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Fundspeak

Crude swings, FII volatility & valuation reset: time to add equity

UTI Mutual Fund 12 May 2026 Equity Markets UTI’s valuation indicator has moved into the “increase equity” zone, with large caps better placed than mid and small caps amid global uncertainty. EQUITY ALLOCATION Increase LARGE CAPS Comfortable MID & SMALL CAPS Expensive STYLE BIAS Value tilt Summary UTI sees Indian equity markets stabilising after crude swings, geopolitical tensions, and FII volatility. The AMC’s proprietary valuation indicator has moved into the “increase equity” zone, with large caps looking more attractive than richly priced mid and small caps. Value is positioned to potentially mean-revert versus growth and quality, and investors are advised to add equity in a staggered manner with disciplined asset allocation. The detail Macroeconomic outlook Equity markets have faced sharp crude oil swings, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, rupee pressure, and continued FII volatility. Despite this uncertainty, markets have repeatedly attempted to stabilise as investors reassess the long-term picture. Globally, the US economy remains relatively resilient to crude oil shocks because energy intensity has reduced and the US has become a net energy exporter. Risks, however, remain from elevated corporate profits, high AI-led capex, uncertain returns from AI investments, and the impact of higher US bond yields on equity valuations. India-specific risks For India, the key risks include elevated crude oil prices, supply-chain disruptions, fertilizer availability, current account pressure, and currency weakness. India’s goods trade balance remains a structural challenge, though services exports continue to provide meaningful support to the overall external account. Market & equity view UTI’s proprietary equity valuation indicator is currently in the “increase equity allocation” zone, suggesting investors may consider raising equity exposure in a staggered manner. Large-cap valuations appear more comfortable compared to mid and small caps, which remain relatively expensive. The AMC also highlighted that growth and quality have underperformed value, creating scope for a possible style reversal. What this means for investors Action points UTI’s guidance for navigating the current setup centres on staggered allocation, discipline, and avoiding emotional decisions: Increase equity allocation in a staggered manner. Phase in additions over time rather than deploying lumpsum at one go. Prioritise asset allocation and risk management. Stick to a target mix that fits your goals rather than reacting to short-term moves. Consider hybrid funds for lumpsum allocation. Useful for cushioning short-term volatility while keeping equity exposure. Stay disciplined with a long-term approach. Avoid panic exits during negative news flow and let the asset allocation framework do the work. Equity UTI Mutual Fund Market Insights Asset allocation Large cap Value investing May 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice.

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Sticky inflation, oil volatility & duration caution: fixed income under pressure

UTI Mutual Fund Anurag Mittal · Head of Fixed Income 08 May 2026 Fixed Income UTI’s Anurag Mittal sees liquidity, not duration, as the safer anchor for fixed income positioning through 2026. DURATION VIEW Cautious LIQUIDITY Comfortable INFLATION Sticky RBI STANCE Patient SUMMARY Elevated oil prices, geopolitical disruptions, and potential El Niño risks are keeping inflation sticky. RBI is likely to stay patient, prioritising liquidity over rate action. Front-end fixed income strategies look better placed than long-duration bets in this uncertain macro setup. Key takeaways 1Markets have shifted from expecting global rate cuts to pricing in tighter monetary conditions due to sticky inflation risks. 2Sustained crude above expected levels could trigger stagflationary pressures globally, especially for oil-importers like India. 3RBI is expected to prioritise liquidity support while staying cautious on rate action until second-round inflation effects emerge. 4Front-end yield curve positioning remains preferable amid uncertainty around growth, inflation, and fiscal dynamics. 5El Niño risks and higher fertilizer costs could disproportionately impact food inflation through pulses, oilseeds, and rain-fed crops. 6Liquidity conditions remain supportive due to RBI interventions and anticipated dividend transfers, anchoring short-term rates. What this means for investors Strategy by investment horizon UTI’s framework maps investor time horizon to the most suitable fixed income strategy in the current environment: HORIZON 3–12 months Money market or low-duration strategies. Short maturities limit exposure to rate volatility while capturing the comfortable liquidity environment. HORIZON ~12 months Short-term or corporate bond strategies. A modest step up the curve with reasonable accrual, without taking aggressive duration risk. HORIZON 2+ years Income plus arbitrage strategies. Suited for investors comfortable with a longer holding period and looking for tax-efficient accrual. Avoid aggressive duration calls until there is better clarity on crude oil, inflation trajectory, and RBI policy direction. The detail Macroeconomic outlook Global fixed income markets remain under pressure from geopolitical uncertainty, crude oil volatility, tariff-related inflation, and shifting US interest rate expectations. While manufacturing activity has improved, this may partly reflect frontloading due to supply-chain concerns. Rising input costs across manufacturing and services continue to create sticky inflation risks. India-specific risks The key risks for India remain crude oil prices, fertilizer costs, food inflation, monsoon distribution, and El Niño uncertainty. However, El Niño does not always translate into a weak monsoon — the actual impact depends on rainfall distribution and crop sensitivity, particularly for pulses, oilseeds, and rain-fed crops. Central bank view: Fed & RBI UTI expects the US Federal Reserve to remain patient and data-dependent. For India, RBI is also likely to stay in wait-and-watch mode, since current inflation pressure is largely supply-side driven. Even if inflation rises toward 5–5.5%, RBI may not hike immediately unless second-round inflation effects appear. Liquidity is expected to remain comfortable over the next 6–12 months, supported by banking system surplus liquidity and expected RBI dividend flows. Duration positioning UTI is more constructive on the front end of the yield curve. Money market, low-duration, short-term, and corporate bond strategies appear better placed than aggressive long-duration funds. Long-duration bonds may remain vulnerable to crude oil shocks, inflation surprises, fiscal pressure, currency movement, and geopolitical risks. Fundyantra Insight The evolving macro setup suggests that liquidity visibility — not duration aggression — may become the primary anchor for fixed income positioning in 2026. Front-end strategies offer the cleaner risk-reward until RBI’s stance and the crude trajectory become clearer. Fixed income UTI Mutual Fund Market Insights RBI policy Duration view May 2026 Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not constitute investment advice. Fundyantra’s commentary is editorial in nature and should not be construed as a recommendation.

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