BS jury picks five best fund managers in the debt and equity category

Given the focus on safety and quality, the task of choosing money managers in the debt category was tougher than that for equity funds

The last year-and-a-half was a challenging one for both debt and equity fund managers. On the equity side, the returns charts were lopsided with a select pack of stocks accounting for most of the outperformance across categories. The underperformance of the small- and mid-capitalisation companies continued over this period, as investors sought refuge in safety due to a slowdown in earnings growth. Given the narrow breadth of the market, the outperformers in the equity category were fund managers who were consistent with their strategies and reaped the dividends. 

Prashant Jain of HDFC Mutual Fund was adjudged the winner in the