Top 5 Liquid mutual funds for short term investment

Top 5 mutual funds for short term investment-Jan-2013Top 5 Liquid mutual funds for short term investment

If you want to park your surplus money for a short term period and get higher returns, you can opt for Liquid Mutual funds.

What are liquid mutual funds?

Liquid mutual funds are similar to debt funds but invest in very short term investments which are maturing within 90 days. Liquid mutual funds invest in debt instruments, money market instruments, government bills, government securities which matures before 90 days period.

Features of Liquid mutual funds

  1. These liquid mutual funds invest in short term instruments which gets matured in less than 90 days.
  2. There is no exit load for liquid mutual funds.
  3. Dividend distribution tax of 27% is applicable on returns.
  4. The returns on liquid mutual funds would be higher when interest rates are falling as short term securities interest rates would increase.
  5. The last 3 years returns on Top 5 mutual funds are ranging between 8% to 9.6% p.a.
  6. Like any other mutual fund, liquid mutual funds are available as growth fund and dividend fund. However in Dividend fund, you can re-invest your dividend and you would get fund units to that extent.

Liquid fund Vs Bank Savings Account

Though there are similar features of liquid mutual fund and bank savings account, below are some of the differences.

  1. Returns: Liquid mutual funds returns are ranging between 8% to 9.5% p.a, whereas the bank savings bank account the interest rates are ranging between 4% to 6% (highest interest is offered by a few banks only).
  2. Tax: Returns on liquid funds are attracted by dividend distribution tax of 27% p.a. and they are deducted directly by mutual fund company. However savings bank account, income tax would depend on the individual tax bracket, though banks may directly deduct the tax as per their applicable rates.

Liquid funds Vs Ultra Short term mutual funds

  1. Investment objectives: The objective of liquid mutual funds is to invest in short term investments of < 90 days. However ultra short term mutual funds invest in securities which gets matured beyond 90 days.
  2. Underlying securities trading: Liquid funds invest in less than 90 days securities and the NAV of such fund would get increased when the interest are received. Ultra short term funds on other hand invest in  greater than 90 days securities and such underlying securities would be trading in the market. There are good chances that the NAV of ultra short term fund fluctuates due to underlying securities getting traded in open market.
  3. Exit load: Liquid funds do not have exit load, whereas Ultra short term funds have exit load if withdrawn before 1 month. Some ultra short term funds are charging exit load upto few days only.

How to be more tax efficient:

Liquid mutual funds provide good opportunity for short term investments, however the dividend distribution tax is 27% and everyone gets hurt with this. There is a way to be more tax efficient. You can opt for Dividend reinvestment. Dividend stripped will be reinvested as units and they are treated as fresh investment. Since these are now fresh costs, any returns on these would be small and you can lower your income tax.  

Top 5 liquid mutual funds for short term investment

These top 5 mutual funds have been arrived based on below parameters.

  1. Top 5 funds picked based on highest returns received in the last 3 years. The selection is based on highest returns for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years
  2. Funds which are rated by Crisil as rank-1 which specifies good fundamentals for these top 5 mutual funds.
  3. AUM (Assets under management) > 1000 crores. This provides investor confidence among these top 5 mutual funds.

Top 5 liquid mutual funds for short term investment-Jan-2013

Conclusion: Liquid mutual funds are for short term investments. Look at the features and comparison with savings bank account or ultra short term mutual funds and you can decide which one to go based on your investment objectives and period of investment. Invest in this Top 5 liquid mutual funds to increase your returns.

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Suresh
Top 5 liquid mutual funds for short term investment

Suresh KP

34 comments

  1. Hi Suresh,

    Wanted to invest in liquid funds for a lumpsum of 5 lakhs for about 6 months..what would be the profit and the tax deductions after 6 months

  2. I would like to invest 6000-8000 every month for short term period, atleast for 1 year and i might extend for next following year. Can you please advise which would be best mutual fund from where i can get max interest rate.

    1. Sumeet, You need to invest in SIP for long term of say 5 to 10 years. Since you wanted to invest for 1 year only and you may extend lateron, I am assuming that you would keep this money for say 5 to 10 years. In such case you can invest in balanced funds like HDFC balanced fund or ICICI balanced fund. If you want to invest just for 1 year and take out money, you can look for debt funds instead.

  3. Hi Suresh,

    The table indicated above is of Jan 2013, does this still hold good or can you please suggest Top 5 liquid funds as of Jan 2016. Many thanks in advance

    Regards,
    Prashanth

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