9 sectoral/thematic schemes that lost the most in 2023

Nine sectoral or thematic schemes lost the most in 2023 till date, an analysis of performance by ETMutualFunds showed. There were around 174 sectoral or thematic schemes in the market.

These nine schemes were from the international fund category. The schemes lost around 8% in this year till date. The schemes that lost the most were Edelweiss Greater China Equity Off-Shore Fund and Mahindra Manulife Asia Pacific REITs FOF. Both schemes lost around 7.78%. Edelweiss Greater China Equity Off-Shore Fund, on a yearly return basis, has given negative returns in 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2022 in the 10 year horizon. In 2020, the scheme delivered 57.36% returns.

Mahindra Manulife Asia Pacific REITs FOF was launched in October 2021. Based on yearly returns, the scheme has offered negative returns in 2021 and 2022.


DSP World Mining Fund, the next scheme in the list, lost around 7.62% in this year so far. On a yearly return basis, the scheme has given negative returns only in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018 in the 10 year horizon.


Two schemes - Edelweiss Greater China Equity Off-Shore Fund, and Axis Greater China Equity FoF, had investments in the Greater China market.

Axis Greater China Equity FoF was launched in February 2021. The scheme posted negative returns in 2021 and 2022. The scheme lost around 16.40% and 14.35% in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Kotak International REIT FOF, which lost around 4.07% in this year till date, was launched in December 2020. On a yearly basis, the scheme has offered negative returns in 2022. DSP World Agriculture Fund, which lost around 3.86% in this year till date, was launched in October 2011. On a yearly basis, the scheme has positive negative returns in 2015, 2018, and 2022.

Franklin Asian Equity Fund lost 2.53% in this year till date. In the last 10 years, based on yearly returns, the scheme posted negative returns in 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2022.

Edelweiss ASEAN Equity Off-Shore Fund lost 2.17% in this year so far. The scheme was launched in July 2011. On yearly returns, the scheme posted negative returns in 2015, and 2018 only.

Mirae Asset Hang Seng TECH ETF FoF, lost the lowest of around 1.84% in this year till date. The scheme was launched in December 2021. On yearly returns, the scheme has posted negative returns in 2021 and 2022.

Note, the above exercise is not a recommendation to buy or sell. The main purpose of this exercise was just to find out which sectoral or thematic funds lost the most in this year till date. One should not make investment or redemption decisions based on the above exercise. International funds, as the name denotes, invest abroad. The performance of the schemes will depend on the performance of the market you have invested in and you should not compare it with the performance of the Indian market.

International funds category is vast and diverse. It caters to broad international indices, sector indices, commodities, among others. One should pay extra attention to which geography or indices they are choosing before making the investments in international funds. One should always consider risk appetite, investment horizon, and goal before making investment decisions. In this case you should also pay extra attention to your asset allocation plan.

We considered all sectoral and thematic funds. We considered only regular and growth option.