ICICI Pru's Chintan Haria: SIPs, Passive Funds Crucial Amid Volatility in 2026

• Chintan Haria of ICICI Prudential AMC expects SIPs and diversified mutual funds to remain investor favorites in 2026 due to sustained market volatility.
• SIPs offer consistent participation without timing markets, while mutual funds provide built-in diversification and professional management.
• SIP stoppages are often due to routine reasons like bank mandate changes or cashflow needs, not necessarily negative sentiment; net flows are a clearer indicator.
• Passive instruments like index funds and ETFs provide low-cost, transparent, rule-based exposure, acting as behavioral stabilizers.
• Precious metal ETFs offer diversification and comfort during equity downturns; Nifty 500, Nifty Next 50, and factor-based indices are expected to gain focus.

Why It Matters: SIPs and passive funds are vital for consistent, reliable investing amidst market volatility, offering stability and diversification.