Debt mutual funds, also called bond funds, are divided into various categories based on their duration, credit quality, and instrument type. Duration based SIP has its own risks and rewards and should be purchased only after complete market research and expert guidance.
As per SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), overnight funds are open ended debt mutual funds that lend money to corporates for 1 business day. These bonds are purchased overnight by fund managers and it matures the next business day.
Liquid Funds
Liquid funds come in the category of debt funds. These funds lend money to the companies for up to 91 days. Liquid funds are one of the safest investment options under the mutual fund category, as they lend money for a very short duration.
Ultra Short Duration Funds
Debt funds that lend to companies for a very short duration of 3 to 6 months are called ultra-short duration funds. Short duration means less returns but is also less risky compared to other mutual fund investments.
Low Duration Funds
Low-duration funds lend to companies for a period of 6 to 12 months. The lending time is more than liquid and ultra-short funds, and hence are a little more volatile.
Money Market Funds
Money market funds are debt funds that invest in money market instruments for a period of maximum 1 year. The fund managers balance the risk by investing in debt securities.
Short Duration Funds
Debt funds that invest in companies for a duration of 1 to 3 years are called short-duration mutual funds. Fund managers invest in companies that have a good loan repayment record and sufficient cash flows.
Medium Duration Funds
Medium-duration funds are open-ended debt funds that invest in securities for a period of 3 to 4 years. These funds are riskier when compared to low-duration funds.
Medium to Long Duration Funds
Medium to long-duration funds are open-ended debt funds that invest in securities for a period of 4 to 7 years. Long duration offers better returns but is also riskier when compared to low duration investment options.
Long Duration Funds
Long-duration funds invest for more than 5 years. Investors who are looking to invest for a longer period but do not want high risks involved in equity funds can go for this debt fund option.
Dynamic Bond Funds
Dynamic bond funds are actively managed by fund managers to use interest rates in the economy optimally. Fund managers hold short term bonds when the market rises and switch to long term bonds when the market drops.
Corporate Bond Funds
Corporate bonds are debt mutual funds that take money from investors and put 80% of it in corporate bonds of the companies with the highest credit rating. Ratings are decided based on the companies' paying back the lent money time.
Credit Risk Funds
Credit risk debt funds are mutual funds that invest at least 65% in low-rated companies. Low rated bonds offer higher interest rates and also high returns, but the risks are also high.
Banking & PSU Debt Funds
Banking & PSU funds are open-ended debt funds that predominantly invest in Public Sector Undertakings, Public Financial Instruments, and banks. The risk is low in these debt funds.
Gilt Funds
Gilt funds are a type of debt mutual fund that invests primarily in government securities. Government bonds are considered one of the safest investments, but the returns are relatively low.
Gilt Funds with 10 Year Constant Duration
As the name suggests, gilt funds with 10 year constant duration means debt funds that invest in government securities for a period of 10 years constantly. These funds do not buy or sell government securities because of market fluctuations.
Floater Funds
Debt funds that invest in floating rate bonds are called floater funds. The interest rates go up when the bond price goes down, and vice versa.