Gold prices may not trade sharply higher next week but chances of profit booking will arise By Bhavik Patel Gold continues to trade above $2000 with markets recalibrating the expectation that there might be rate hike in May and rate cut starting after September. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets see a 70% chance that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by another 25 basis points next month. However, that is expected to be the last rate hike in this tightening cycle. Markets continue to price in a rate cut before the end of the year.US consumer retail inflation came lower than expected but Fed’s favorite inflation measure- core service excluding housing came slightly higher. FOMC minutes from the March meeting revealed several officials considered pausing due to the turmoil in the banking sector. Gold continues to show underlying strength even though upward momentum has slowed. Gold saw some correction following stronger than expected US employment data last Friday but the shallow correction shows strength. In MCX, gold is yet to come in overbought stage as RSI_14 is trading around 65. Level of 61200 seems to be immediate resistance for the market and I believe very few would venture to take a long position at the current juncture. The 20 day moving average is trading around 59,500 and we have known historically that it functions as a magnet and since the gold price is far away from its 20-day moving average, we believe any dip is overdue. Recommendation would be to go long around 59,900 where last swing low was and where the 20-day moving average is, with expected target of 61,100 and stoploss of 59,200. Next week, gold price is likely to consolidate with absence of any major trigger and run up already seen in last few weeks. Don’t expect gold to trade sharply higher next week but chances of profit booking will arise. (Bhavik Patel is a commodity and currency analyst at Tradebull Securities. Views expressed are the author’s own. Please consult your financial advisor before investing.)
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In its consultation paper, Sebi has suggested that trustees of mutual funds should focus on market abuse by AMC, its employees and mis-selling by the AMC to increase the asset base.
Also, trustees should be responsible for fairness of fees and expenses charged by the AMC, compare its performance with peers and ensure that AMC’s sponsor is not getting any undue advantage.
In addition to the core areas, the trustees should be responsible for periodically reviewing the steps taken by AMCs for the folios which do not contain all KYC attributes with bank details.
Further, Sebi has suggested that trustees and their resource persons should independently evaluate the extent of compliance by AMC and not merely rely on AMC’s assurances.
To facilitate trustees’ supervision, AMCs should provide them with analytical information.
Presently, the trustees primarily rely on the AMCs for ensuring compliance with the applicable rules.
Under the rules, trustees hold the property of the mutual fund in trust for the benefit of the unitholders. The trustees appoint an AMC to float schemes for the mutual fund and manage the funds mobilised under various schemes, in accordance with the investment objectives.
“In view of the increasing scale and reach of the mutual fund industry, trustees’ role in respect of unitholders’ protection assumes even greater significance,” Sebi said on Friday.
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Over the past decade there has been a five-fold increase in the size of the mutual fund industry. The assets under management (AUM) has surged from Rs 7.93 lakh crore in November 2012 to Rs 39.89 lakh crore in December 2022.
To ensure that trustees devote time and attention to their core responsibilities, Sebi has suggested that for fulfilling other responsibilities, trustees may rely on professional firms such as audit firms, legal firms, merchant bankers for carrying out due diligence on their behalf.
The Sebi also listed some duties trustees can delegate to AMCs. This include ensuring that all systems are in place prior to the launch of any scheme by the AMC, and calculating any income in the mutual fund due to the fund and any income received in the mutual fund for unitholders.
The regulator has proposed to provide a one year time to existing trustees with board of trustee structure to convert into a trustee company, from governance point of view.
Presently, two structures for trustees are permitted — corporate and board of trustees structure. Moreover, there are a few mutual funds which have the board of trustees structure while the trustees of all other mutual funds have adopted the structure of a trustee company.
Considering the enhanced role of trustees over the period of time, Sebi has suggested to increase the minimum number of trustees to adequately perform their functions. Presently, the minimum number of trustees prescribed is four.
Also, it has been proposed that the chairperson of the trustee company should be an independent director.
Sebi has suggested that apart from the meeting of the audit committee of AMCs and trustees (which mostly comprises of independent directors), the board of AMCs and the board of trustees may be mandated to meet at least once a year to discuss the issues concerning the mutual funds.
The regulator proposed that the existing MF Regulations on AMC and its obligations may be amended to include additional clauses with respect to the obligations of the board of AMC.
The proposed amendment may include a clause which casts an obligation on the board of AMC to ensure that all the activities of the asset management company are in accordance with the provisions of these regulations.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought comments from public till February 24 on these proposals.