Gold ETFs Log Rs 2,400-Crore Inflow In July-September Quarter

Gold ETFs have been among the better-performing asset classes in India so far this year, with net inflows at Rs 5,957 crore.

PTI
A gold ingot. (Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg)

Gold exchange-traded funds saw net inflows of more than Rs 2,400 crore in the three months ended Sept. 30, as investors continued to hedge exposure to riskier assets due to higher economic uncertainty resulting from Covid-19.

In comparison, investors had infused Rs 172 crore in this asset class in July-September 2019, according to the data available with the Association of Mutual Funds in India.

Gold ETFs has been among the better-performing asset classes so far this year and received a net inflow of Rs 5,957 crore.

Divam Sharma, co-founder at Green Portfolio, said returns generated by gold ETFs over the last one year have increased number of investors buying the asset.

"Gold investments have picked up due to higher economic uncertainty resulting from Covid-19," said Harsh Jain, co-founder of Groww. Investors are wary of volatile global markets, and in such times, investment in very safe assets like gold always shoots up. Even though now, the markets have mostly recovered and reached the pre-pandemic levels, uncertainty remains high going forward, Jain said.

"We have seen re-emergence of higher Covid-19 cases in many parts of Europe and U.S. Many countries are imposing lockdowns in a staged manner again. This is leading to a higher economic uncertainty again. In such conditions, higher investment in gold assets is expected," he added.

Gopal Kavalireddi, head of research at FYERS, said the outcome of U.S. presidential elections will have a bearing on the performance of equities over the next couple of months. This could prompt investors to reverse their choice and hedge investments with gold ETFs.

Month-wise, investors put in a net Rs 202 crore in January, Rs 1,483 crore in February, but withdrew Rs 195 crore in March on profit-booking. Inflows resumed in April at Rs 731 crore, followed by Rs 815 crore in May, Rs 494 crore in June, Rs 921 crore in July, Rs 908 crore in August and Rs 597 crore in September.

Despite the slight fall in inflows of gold ETF in September, Sharma said the outlook for the remaining part of the year looks positive. "With the Covid-19 cases rebounding globally, continued liquidity and lower interest rates from central banks globally, and markets nearing the pre-Covid-19 levels, investors will continue to invest surplus liquidity in safer assets like gold," he said.

Investors looking to invest in gold can choose between gold ETFs, gold mutual funds, sovereign gold bonds, and physical gold.

Also Read: Gold Sales in India’s Festival Quarter Seen Weakest Since 2008

The inflows led assets under management of gold funds surging to Rs 13,590 crore at the end of September 2020, from Rs 5,613 crore at the end of September 2019. Gold-backed ETFs are passive investment instruments that are based on price movements and investments in physical gold.

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