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Why are mutual funds subject to market risk?

By Ibnu Jala
Last Updated on December 12, 2024
A person is checking why mutual funds are subject to market risk

Mutual funds are similar to other investment options, with the exception that they are intended for long-term plans. Mutual funds, like all other investment plans, are dependent on stocks, bonds, and other securities. Consequently, because of the diverse market risks, mutual funds are also likely to be risky owing to the volatility of the share market.

Mutual fund schemes are exponentially growing among investors. Almost every scheme promotes their mutual fund programs as risk-free, considering the long-term investments. It may be true that long-term investments have greater chances of making profits. But like any other investment, mutual funds are subject to market risk. It is due to several key factors, one of which is that it is impossible to predict the future or how the markets will perform. Since stocks, bonds, and other securities fluctuate, there are chances of risk in investing in mutual funds. Although this shouldn’t imply that you should not invest in mutual funds, While investing, it is better to learn about the strategies to overcome these market risks. Here, we will be exploring mutual funds, concepts of market risks, methods to deal with them, and the need for guidance from experts.

What are mutual funds?

Mutual funds are a form of investment portfolio where multiple investors pool their money to invest in stocks, bonds, and other assets. All the funds are managed by a professional fund manager who has years of expertise in the trading industry. These managers allocate the money to specific bonds and assets as per the investment goals. Investors purchase shares in the mutual fund and get returns according to the performance of the respective mutual fund plan.

Mutual funds offer several benefits to investors. It is due to factors such as diversification of the stock, bonds, and assets, professional management of the funds, liquidity, and long-term growth. Generally, the stock market is predicted to rise every year. Therefore, investing in mutual funds for a long time has a higher chance of generating growth.

Often, people opt for mutual funds for their convenience. However, there are market risks, and even mutual funds may not survive. Market risks can negatively impact the value of stocks, affecting mutual fund schemes. To deal with market risk, it is important to learn about market risks and how they affect mutual funds and other investments. This will help you understand why mutual fund investments are subject to market risk and how to overcome it.

Understanding market risks

Market risk, also known as systematic risk, is the potential loss of an investor due to factors that affect entire financial markets or segments within them. Market risks caused by stock market crashes, geopolitical events, and economic cycles cannot be eliminated by strategic means. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risk due to these factors. Although it can be hedged in other ways, let us go through the types of market risk to understand more about it.

Types of market risks

  • Interest rate changes: Fluctuations in interest rates directly influence bond prices. During inflation, the value of the bond decreases correspondingly as the interest rate spikes. This negatively impacts the investment portfolios.
  • Currency risks: Changes in the rate of currencies can affect some mutual fund investments in a reduction when converting the profits back to the home or base currency.
  • Inflation: In order to maintain control over the economy, central banks frequently raise interest rates during inflation. A bearish run with lower stock prices is the immediate outcome of this rising interest rate, which also directly impacts stock market liquidity.
  • Commodity risks: The standard deviation of changes in commodities such as oil, food, or basic goods can highly impact the stock market. A slight change in the volatility in the prices of these commodities brings down the entire performance of the market.
  • Economic risks: economic risks involve changes in government policy, geopolitical tension, natural disasters, etc. Economic risks often affect the whole population.

How do market risks affect mutual funds?

The fluctuations in the prices of stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities highly impact mutual funds. When these securities are affected by different market and economic risks, it can lead to volatility in stocks and bond markets, affecting the performance of mutual fund portfolios. Higher market risks cause potential losses for investors, especially equity funds. Meanwhile, fund managers incorporate market risk strategies such as allocation and hedging to manage the risks. Let’s check out how these risks can be balanced out by implementing strategies.

Managing market risks while investing in mutual funds

Market risks may not be able to be eliminated. However, by implementing several strategies, market risks can be dealt with while investing in mutual funds. The following are strategies to control market risks:

1. Investment diversification

Spreading the investment across different asset classes, sectors, and geographical regions can reduce the impact of a downturn on a single investment.

2. Asset allocation

Mixing equities, bonds, stocks, and cash based on the risk tolerance, financial goals, and time horizon to prevent a sudden downward in the assets. Adjust this allocation as the situation changes.

3. Systematic investment planning

SIPs can help mitigate the market volatility in mutual funds. Cultivating the habit of investing a regular monthly amount may help to balance market fluctuations more effectively.

4. Risk Assessment

Determine and understand the potential risks in each of the mutual fund portfolios to balance the volatility of the funds and avoid greater risks.

5. Regular monitoring of the mutual fund portfolios

Regularly monitoring and staying updated on market trends, economic changes, and geopolitical events may help to acknowledge the potential crashes in the market prior to the incident.

6. Long-term investment

Investing for a long time often eliminates the drip of mutual funds. Mutual funds are generally designed to invest for a longer period of time. Long-term markets are considered to increase and generate huge profits. Opting for long-term investments has lower chances of risk.

7. Professional guidance

Always consult a professional trader when in doubt. Financial advisors can provide reliable and personalised advice to navigate the market out of uncertainties.

The phrase mutual fund is subject to market risk often scares beginners. By implementing these strategies, the negative impact on mutual funds can be diminished.

How does Finquo Versity help secure mutual funds from market risks?

Finquo Versity excels at providing a deep learning curriculum to beginners as well as traders. It provides lifelong access to their guidance, ensuring the traders seek expert advice at their convenience. These professional experts analyse the mutual fund portfolio and instruct you to drive the trading wheel towards success. Trading experts from Finquo Versity will help you acknowledge the minor and major risks involved in the portfolio and train you to overcome these market risks by teaching strategies and investment tips. With the help of this guidance, anyone can invest better, manage the risks associated with mutual investments, and boost the likelihood of achieving financial obligations

Conclusion

From this evaluation, we believe that we have addressed all the necessary information relating to “why mutual funds are subject to market risk.” Market risks are common when trading or investing. With proper education and guidance, these market risks can be minimised to some extent. Thus, mutual funds are not affected as much as they could have been. Implementing strategies such as diversification and asset allocation can prevent the impact of market risks caused by geopolitical reasons, economic issues, and others. Therefore, opting for guidance courses from Finquo Versity might help you learn better about the trading markets and enhance your skills to identify market risks and overcome them. 

Author Info

Ibnu Jala

Ibnu Jala is an experienced professional in the financial markets of India and the Middle East, renowned for his trading expertise and mentorship. His passion for neuroscience drives his research, blending finance and science seamlessly. With a Bachelor’s in Law from India and an MBA from the UK, Ibnu Jala has a diverse academic background. In addition to being a seasoned investor and serial entrepreneur, he currently leads FinQuo Versity as its CEO.

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