Have NAV targets when investing in mid-cap funds

I would like to invest for 2-3 years and want the highest possible returns. Will investing in mid-cap funds help? If they do, suggest some good funds.

- Narendra Rami

High returns come with a high degree of risk and mid-cap funds are the riskiest among all the equity funds. Mid-cap funds are capable of delivering higher returns than large-cap funds but, at the same time, may fall much more than the latter. And when markets are unfavourable, they fall harder. So don’t be surprised by their downside. If you have the risk appetite to bear this, you can go for them.

There are aggressive funds in the market that show extreme reactions to market movements. You can choose from funds like DSPBR Opportunities, Kotak Opportunities or Sundaram BNP Paribas Select Focus. It would be better if you set a return target for yourself and exit these investments once you achieve the set targets. And be prepared to take losses as well.

I had purchased some units of Morgan Stanley Growth Fund that was listed on the stock exchange. But now I do not see the units in my portfolio. Can you help me understand what happened to the units that I had bought?

- Brajesh Singh

The fund was a close-ended scheme and was listed on the stock exchange. This year (2009), it completed its close-ended tenure of 15 years and it has been converted into an open-ended scheme.

It is not listed on the stock exchange any more. It was due for redemptions in January, 2009. At that time, all its unit holders had the option to either redeem their units or to stay put. This means that the units that you had purchased are still held by you, if you didn’t opt for redemption when the scheme turned open-ended.

It is just that the units are no longer held in your demat account, which is why you are unable to see them there. Now you can transact directly with the fund house.

I invested Rs 10,000 each in Fidelity Equity, Kotak Opportunities and Reliance Vision on January 16, 2008. The funds are still in the red. Should I sell these off or continue to hold them till I get a positive return? In case you advise me to exit these funds, suggest some funds. I am a long-term investor.

- Kishalay Mitra

Your choice of funds is good. Fidelity Equity and Reliance Vision are diversified large-cap funds. They have done well in the past and have not been hit too badly by the market crash last year. They still hold promise and are likely to do reasonably well when the markets recoup.

Kotak Opportunities is an aggressive fund. This fund has proved its mettle in the past when the markets were doing good. It does well when the markets are on a rise and falls harder when the markets fall. So, stay put.

Avoid lumpsum investments like the ones you made in the past. Long-term investors should always invest systematically over a period of time. This will help you to average the cost of units purchased and not worry about market movements.