CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Much of the empirical research on mutual funds has not given any significant contribution for the mutual fund investor. Unfortunately many mutual fund investor have probably never heard about these research results or their implications. They have heard some rules of thumb guidelines from their brokers or peers about how to select a particular fund. The purpose of this present study is to identify the selection criteria, investors seem to use in selecting a mutual fund institution that suits the investors investment objective and also to identify the factors that are responsible for the selection of schemes floated by these organisations. Further it attempts to identify the reactions from the respondents' namely mutual fund unit holders of Mysore towards the performance of the different schemes. The researcher has employed interview schedule for the collection of data to elicit views of the Mutual Fund investors.

Individuals from all walks of life have been showing increasing participation in the stock market, a place where one can see their money doubling in a period of time or disappearing depending on how they play the game. With the stupendous growth in the capital market, direct investment in the stock market has definitely become next to impossible. And yet investors undertake investments with minimal risks of the working of stock exchanges. But in order that investments prove profitable; investors need to have a fair knowledge of stock exchanges.

Swift and timely decisions and more importantly, timing the market is an impossible task for a lay investor who can hardly spare any time or resources needed for the same. And here is where the mutual funds come into picture

Basically a mutual fund invests on behalf of the investors, armed with requisite knowledge as