Mr. Alok Singh

Chief Investment Officer - Fixed Income, Bank of India Mutual Fund.

Mr. Alok Singh is a Postgraduate in Business Administration from ICFAI Business School and a CFA with over 24 years of experience in Fund Management. He has a wealth of experience and impressive track record in fund management both for residents as well as for overseas investors. In the past, Alok has won numerous awards for stellar fund performance during his career span. Alok heads the overall Equity & Fixed Income Investment Operations for Bank of India Investment Managers as Chief Investment Officer. Alok’s remarkable achievement includes growing the company’s Assets Under Management from ₹100 crore to approximately ₹12,000 crore since his joining in April 2012.

Please note we have published the answers as it is received from the Fund Manager of Bank of India Mutual Fund.

Q1. The US Federal Reserve has signaled a data-dependent stance despite recent rate cuts. Given this cautious approach, do you see the risk of Fed policy surprises impacting global bond markets, and how are you factoring this uncertainty into your Indian debt positioning?

Answer: We believe that while the US Federal Reserve has adopted a data-dependent approach to assess the need for further rate cuts, the scope for policy surprises appears limited. The US economy is already facing its own growth challenges, which the Fed is likely to support through accommodative measures. This backdrop should continue to encourage the Reserve Bank of India to maintain a growth-supportive stance, provided inflation remains benign.

Q2. With the yen near historic lows and carry-trade risks rising, how could a sudden unwind impact Indian debt markets, FX volatility, and investor flows?

Answer: We see minimal risk of any significant impact from changes in yen carry trade on Indian debt markets. This is primarily because the majority of Indian debt is held domestically, with only a small fraction owned by foreign investors. Even within that limited foreign exposure, the inclusion of Indian bonds in global bond indices is expected to broaden the investor base and enhance stability, rather than trigger large outflows. However, a very high FX volatility may force RBI to harden the interest rate, though currently that situation has very low probability.

Q3. With the rupee hitting new lows against the dollar, how are you managing currency risk in your debt portfolio, particularly for overseas or hedged instruments?

Answer: We currently don’t have overseas exposure in the debt portfolio hence there is no direct risk.

Q4. With higher LCR buffers becoming effective from April 2026, what implications do you foresee for the demand–supply dynamics at the front end of the G-Sec curve? Could banks’ increased appetite for short-tenor securities distort pricing or crowd out other investors over time?

Answer: We do not expect the implementation of higher LCR buffers to have any significant impact on the yield curve, as we anticipate that the government’s issuance calendar will likely be adjusted to accommodate this incremental demand. Furthermore, the market’s depth and flexibility should help absorb these changes without causing distortions in pricing or crowding out other investors

Q5. As retail investors and digital platforms gradually open access to corporate bonds, do you expect this to alter liquidity, secondary-market depth, and price-discovery dynamics? Could this lead to a more stable bond ecosystem?

Answer: Digital platforms are playing an important role in addressing structural challenges in the debt market, particularly around secondary market depth and price discovery. However, their impact so far remains limited, and significant progress is still required for meaningful market transformation. With the right regulatory support and continued technological innovation, these platforms have the potential to substantially improve transparency, liquidity, and accessibility—ultimately resolving many of the issues faced by retail investors in the debt market.

Q6. What is your in-house credit research process? How do you assess a company's ability to pay, beyond just relying on external credit ratings?

Answer: We have a robust in-house credit research process designed to assess a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service its debt obligations. While external credit ratings serve as an initial reference point, our evaluation goes much deeper. We analyze factors such as business model sustainability, industry dynamics, liquidity position, leverage ratios, and management quality. This comprehensive approach ensures that we identify potential risks early and maintain a high level of credit discipline across our portfolios.

Note: Views provided above are based on information in the public domain and subject to change. Investors are requested to consult their mutual fund distributor for any investment decisions.

MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY

Mr. Alok Singh

Chief Investment Officer - Equity, Bank of India Mutual Fund.

Mr. Alok Singh is a Postgraduate in Business Administration from ICFAI Business School and a CFA with over 24 years of experience in Fund Management. He has a wealth of experience and impressive track record in fund management both for residents as well as for overseas investors. In the past, Alok has won numerous awards for stellar fund performance during his career span. Alok heads the overall Equity & Fixed Income Investment Operations for Bank of India Investment Managers as Chief Investment Officer. Alok’s remarkable achievement includes growing the company’s Assets Under Management from ₹100 crore to approximately ₹12,000 since his joining in April 2012.

Please note we have published the answers as it is received from the Fund Manager of Bank of India Mutual Fund.

Q1. Q2 earnings were strong with double-digit profit growth and improving sales momentum. How do you anticipate this trend evolving over the next few quarters, especially in terms of demand visibility and margin trajectory?

Answer: Q2 FY26 earnings clearly suggest that the downgrade cycle that weighed on markets for the past year appears to be nearing its end. After cumulative cuts of nearly 8–10% over the last four quarters, consensus downgrades have moderated to a large extend in recent updates, signaling improved stability and a potential shift toward earnings normalization. Importantly, consumption demand appears to have remained resilient beyond the festive season, suggesting that the momentum could carry into the fourth quarter as well.

Q2. The IPO market has seen strong demand and oversubscriptions across categories. Do you believe the current IPO momentum is driven by fundamentals or excess liquidity? Are valuations in the primary market getting stretched?

Answer: We hold a mixed view on the ongoing IPO season. While not all offerings appear stretched in terms of valuation, a few represent genuinely good and unique businesses, with some issuers seeking growth capital to scale further. However, in several cases, valuations are not compelling, the businesses lack a clear competitive moat, and a significant portion of the proceeds is being raised through Offer for Sale rather than fresh capital infusion.

Q3. The US AI rally has surged while India has stayed on the sidelines. Does India have the ecosystem to participate meaningfully, and should investors view its limited participation as a risk or as protection from overheated valuations?

Answer: Artificial Intelligence represents one of the most significant innovations of our time. In the initial stages of any breakthrough, its propagation and usage are largely controlled by the original innovators, and India has not been part of that early innovator club. However, as the technology matures and stabilizes, India is well-positioned to emerge at the forefront. The country’s digital ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with several platforms and infrastructure elements already among the best in the world. We believe this creates a strong foundation for AI adoption and integration across industries in India, ensuring that investors will not be disappointed in the long run.

Q4. Do you follow a growth, value, or blend-oriented investing style, and what specific factors or signals determine which style you lean toward at any point in time?

Answer: We follow a blend-oriented investment style that combines elements of both growth and value strategies, with a strong emphasis on businesses delivering sustainable Return on Equity (ROE) over the medium term. Our approach is dynamic and guided by the prevailing level of economic activity-robust, broad-based growth typically favors a growth tilt, while periods of moderation call for a more value-conscious stance. In addition to ROE, we evaluate factors such as balance sheet strength, cash flow visibility, and industry positioning to ensure resilience across market cycles.

Q5. With the rapid evolution of smart-beta products and increased use of quantitative screening in portfolio construction, how is your AMC integrating these tools into its investment process? Do you see quant-driven frameworks becoming more relevant for alpha generation, or will they remain complementary to traditional fundamental research?

Answer: Data analytics capabilities and the quality of available data are undoubtedly improving, which will enable us to incorporate more model-driven approaches into our investment process. However, we believe these tools should remain complementary to fundamental research. India is a fast-growing economy where businesses are undergoing significant structural changes, and these shifts continuously influence investor understanding and expectations. Given this dynamic environment, we expect that a human edge-deep qualitative insights and judgment-will continue to be essential for generating alpha in the foreseeable future.

Q6. Many investors focus heavily on short-term returns before choosing a mutual fund. From your perspective, what are the right long-term metrics or framework investors should evaluate to judge whether a scheme is suitable for them?

Answer: Each portfolio, based on its construct and exposure, may exhibit short-term trends that are often unsustainable over the long run due to market dislocations or temporary factors. Therefore, investors should place greater emphasis on consistency of performance over extended periods rather than being swayed by near-term fluctuations. Scheme selection should be done after considering the long-term risk-adjusted returns of portfolio and its alignment with the investor’s financial needs..

Note: Views provided above are based on information in the public domain and subject to change. Investors are requested to consult their mutual fund distributor for any investment decisions.

MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY

Mr. Rahul Pal

Chief Investment Officer - Fixed Income, Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund

Mr. Rahul Pal is a Chartered Accountant. Prior to joining Mahindra Manulife Investment Management Private Limited, he was associated with Taurus Asset Management Company Limited as 'CIO - Fixed Income'. He has also worked with Sundaram Asset Management Company Limited as 'Fund Manager - Fixed Income'. In these roles, he was responsible for managing and overseeing the Fixed Income Portfolios.

Please note we have published the answers as it is received from the Fund Manager of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund.

Q1. The U.S. Federal Reserve recently cut rates by 25 bps, while the RBI chose to hold its policy rate steady at 5.5%. How do you interpret this policy divergence, and what implications does it have for capital flows, yield differentials, and the broader Indian debt markets?

Ans: The U.S. Federal Reserve's recent 25 bps rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate to 4.00-4.25%, marks a pivot toward accommodative policy amidst a softening labour market and political uncertainty due to the government shutdown. The RBI though held its repo rate steady at 5.5%, citing robust GDP growth (7.8% in Q1 FY26), benign inflation (1.54% in September), and maintained neutral stance. 

This divergence reflects idiosyncratic domestic macro conditions:

• Fed's cut aims to pre-empt labour market deterioration, support growth amidst fiscal challenges

• RBI's pause signals confidence in India's growth trajectory and inflation containment, while presenting itself space for further policy accommodation.

Implications:

• Capital Flows: A narrowing India-U.S. yield differential (now ~200-225 bps) reduces the relative attractiveness of Indian debt for foreign investors. This has already triggered FPI outflows from Indian bonds, particularly Fully Accessible Route (FAR) securities. 

• Currency Pressure: Reduced inflows may exert mild depreciation pressure on the INR, though India's FX reserves and trade resilience offer buffers.

• Impact Domestic Debt Markets: The RBI's pause supports stability in short-term yields, while long-end yields may remain sticky due to global volatility and possible elevated commodity price pressure .However there have been recent news on possible challenges in US Credit market and should it have a contagion , the rush to safe heaven (possibly US treasuries) may trigger a likely RBI action.

Q2. With the Fed's rate cut signaling a potential shift in the global interest rate cycle, do you expect the RBI to follow suit in the coming quarters?

Ans: While the Fed's pivot suggests a global easing cycle, the RBI remains cautious. Its October policy emphasized domestic resilience, low inflation, and the need to allow full transmission of earlier rate cuts.

While a low benign inflation does open space for a possible rate action by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI, we believe global risk off trades, should they materialize, may prompt the MPC for deeper cuts.

Q3. The RBI has revised its inflation projection for FY26 downward to 2.6% from 3.1%. How do you view this assessment - is the inflation trajectory comfortably within control, or are there still risks that could emerge?

Ans: The RBI's downward revision from 3.1% to 2.6% for FY26 reflects confidence in food price moderation, GST rationalisation, supply-side improvements, adequate rainfalls

Supportive Factors:

• Record agricultural output and buffer stocks.

• Negative food inflation in rural areas.

• Core inflation largely contained, barring precious metals. 

Risks to Watch:

• Hard Commodities already inching up

• Sticky services inflation and gold-driven core CPI.

• Tariff-related supply chain disruptions.

• A low food inflation may possibly mean lower incomes for Agriculture dependent households prompting a possible fiscal support to such households

Q4. Retail participation in debt mutual funds has been gradually rising again post-taxation changes. Are investors leaning towards short-term safety or long-term accrual strategies?

Ans: We believe debt mutual funds offer offers a diversification choice in terms of asset allocation, competitive returns vis traditional fixed income products and easy liquidity.

Investors, predominantly, are investing in debt mutual funds for various reasons: a volatile equity market resulting in a vehicle for temporary investments, as an asset diversifier and returns possibly higher than traditional fixed income products.

Q5. What are the key risk indicators you are monitoring for Indian debt markets over the next 6-12 months, and how resilient do you expect the market to be against potential shocks such as a sudden global rate spike or US Treasury yield volatility?

Ans: The key risk indicators for Indian Debt markets 

1. The low inflation regime is predominantly due to low food inflation; Food inflation is a very difficult factor to forecast and the margin for errors may be large. As food inflation is almost 45% of the CPI basket, assuming a secularity in food inflation is a key risk marker.

2. Hard Commodities, copper and aluminum have been inching up, which may risk inflation on the higher side

3. Geo Political conditions, if they ease , may surprisingly also bring up inflation as war ravaged zones of Middle East and Ukraine bring about reconstruction efforts and possibly a commodity price pressure

4. While there are initial narratives on credit challenges in US, these challenges will be a one of the key markers

Q6. In this environment of global rate adjustments, currency pressure, and moderating inflation, what would be your preferred strategy for positioning debt portfolios - duration play, accrual focus, or a balanced approach?

Ans: We believe a balanced approach is a desirable option with a possible 60% focused towards accrual and the rest towards a duration focus.

Note: Views provided above are based on information in the public domain and subject to change. Investors are requested to consult their mutual fund distributor for any investment decisions.

MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY