The mutual fund industry saw its assets hit a record at the end of December and average AUM grow 21 per cent in 2015 over the previous year, capping a surge in equity and debt funds, Crisil said in a statement.
The assets swelled 1.8 per cent in the three months ended December to Rs 13.39 lakh crore, the ninth straight quarter of gains.
The average, however, was a tad less than the 26 per cent on-year rise in 2014.
"Quarterly average assets under management or AUM rose 1.8 per cent to Rs 13.39 lakh crore - a record tally since the Association of Mutual Funds in India started announcing the data in September 2010," Crisil said.
Equity mutual funds continued to attract investors despite the negative undertone in the equity market. Robust inflows (net purchases) of Rs 1.08 lakh crore (over January- November 2015) boosted the average AUM.
The average AUM of long maturity debt funds, including debt and gilt funds, rose 56 per cent in 2015 as a series of repo rate cuts by RBI boosted sentiment. The central bank brought down the key rate by 1.25 per cent over the year to 6.75 per cent, citing lower inflationary pressure and the need to boost the economy.
