The Indian stock markets continue to face pressure as Sensex and Nifty recorded their fifth consecutive monthly decline in February—marking the longest losing streak since 1996. Global economic uncertainties, FII outflows, and subdued Q3 earnings have triggered broad-based selling on Dalal Street. Despite the volatility, equity mutual funds witnessed strong inflows of ₹39,688 crore in January 2025, as per AMFI data. While this was slightly lower than December’s ₹41,155 crore, it reflects cautious investor sentiment amid market fluctuations. Gold ETFs saw a sharp uptick in inflows, whereas thematic funds experienced a dip. SIP contributions remained robust, crossing ₹26,000 crore in January. However, SIP discontinuations stood at 61.32 lakh for the month, reflecting investor churn. Despite this, fresh registrations remained strong, with 56.18 lakh new SIPs, highlighting continued confidence in systematic investments. Join A Balasubramanian, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, as he decodes market trends, SIP strategies, and investment insights in this edition of Market Masters.