Inter-scheme transfers in mutual funds elevated amid debt crisis

Sebi data reveals transactions remained high in both March and in April

Mutual fund houses bought and sold instruments between their own schemes at a higher-than-usual rate as the industry grappled with a crisis in its fixed income segment.

There were 680 such transactions worth Rs 22,452.7 crore in March. This rose to 829 (worth Rs 21,814.9 crore) in April. Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) announced that it was winding up six schemes amid a liquidity crisis in April.

The fund house had exposure to a large number of debt instruments that were considered risky. This means that they are borrowers with whom capital is less safe. They, therefore, offer a higher