Balanced Funds: A Safer Approach To Investing In Volatile Markets

In times of volatile market movements, it is a challenge for some investors to keep their emotions in check. When markets are in a strong rally, our herd instinct compels us to join the crowd and ride with the upside. But when markets correct, we are prone to sell out in panic. Yet, the wisest thing for investors to do at such times may be to remain calm and maintain a focused approach for their investments. Keeping an investment portfolio that is invested across different asset classes is a sound and effective strategy to ride through periods of adverse market movements.
Stock markets are volatile by nature and as illustrated in recent weeks, extended periods of rising share prices can often be interrupted by sudden bouts of consolidation. In such times, investors with moderate risk profiles should consider holding a balanced fund which is invested in both equities and bonds in near equal proportions. Balanced funds aim to provide income and capital growth over the medium to long term period by adopting a balanced asset allocation approach - 40% to 60% of the fund's Net Asset Value (NAV) is invested in equities while the balance is invested in debt securities and liquid assets. In comparison, equity funds generally have asset allocations of 85% or more in equities and the balance in fixed income securities and liquid assets.
The main benefits of investing in balanced funds are:
1. More Stable Returns: The overall portfolio risk of a balanced fund is reduced because the returns of equity and bond investments are generally not positively correlated. The potentially higher but more volatile returns from equity investments are moderated by the fund's investment in bonds. As a result, the returns of a balanced fund should be less volatile than a conventional equity fund.
2. Rebalancing: Another benefit of balanced funds is that in times of rising markets these funds "automatically" rebalance the portfolio by taking profits on equity investments which have appreciated and rebalancing the portfolio to its original equity: bond asset allocation of 60:40. Thanks to this rebalancing process, the unit trust investor need not worry about when to take profits on their investment.
3. Capital growth: A balanced fund will allow the investor to participate in the long term capital growth of equity markets because a sizable portion of up to 60% of the fund is invested in equities.
In conclusion, balanced funds are suitable for medium to long term investors with conservative to moderate risk reward temperament with a preference for receiving income and a respectable measure of capital growth. Investing in a balanced fund helps unit trust investors stay focused on achieving their long term investment goals without requiring them to evaluate the prevailing market cycle. Once they have selected a well-managed balanced fund in line with their risk profiles and investment objectives, they can be assured that the managers of the fund will take the necessary steps to rebalance the fund on a regular basis.