Factors Affecting Fund Flows in Islamic and Conventional Mutual Funds of Pakistan

Abstract

This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on the fund flows in conventional and Islamic equity and fixed-income funds by considering the relationship of it with management expense ratio, fund return, fund size, fund age, inflation, interest rate, and GDP in comparison for conventional and Islamic investors. By using panel data, the sample of Pakistan’s locally managed equity and fixed-income funds are considered comprised of 21 individual conventional and Islamic funds from equity and fixed income category respectively from 2009 to 2018. The results provide evidence that Islamic investors have different factors when choosing funds in comparison with conventional investors. The study finds that the key factor influencing the fund flows is the management expense ratio, return, and fund size. This study also shows that all the conventional and Islamic fund characteristics of equity and fixed-income funds are positively related to fund flows except management expense ratio and fund age, which have negative relationship with fund flows. The empirical findings of this paper clearly call for fund managers and investors to review their investment policy as this paper help fund managers to maintain a balanced amongst the factors so as to ensure maximization of its return, benefiting both; Mutual Fund managers and investors. The results could also provide better information and guidance for investors as well as policy-makers on the factors that affect the fund flow for Pakistan Islamic and conventional equity and fixed-income funds.