Investrix 2025, a panel discussion on the investment landscape, was organised by Finstreet, the Finance Committee of K J Somaiya Institute of Management, on February 08, 2025. The Investrix panel comprised prominent industry leaders, including Akshay Chinchalkar (Head of Research, Content, and Corporate Communication, Axis Securities), Kaustubh Sule (Senior Fund Manager, Groww Mutual Fund), Saurav Bhatia (Head of Macro Strategy and Fixed Income, Sapient Finserv), Naveen Kulkarni (CIO & EVP, Axis Securities PMS), Vetri Subramaniam (CIO, UTI Asset Management), and Samir Lodha (Founder & Managing Director, QuantArt).
The panel, featuring renowned investors Vijay Kedia and Shrishti Sharma (ET NOW), provided valuable insights on long-term investment strategies and market dynamics, offering a comprehensive understanding of financial trends, asset allocation strategies, and macroeconomic developments.
The session discussed the role of Investrix in bridging academia and finance, focusing on cautious market approach and Bloomberg terminal insights.
The panel discussed the depreciation of the rupee, its impact on exports, and the Reserve Bank of India’s interest rate strategy. It highlighted the impact of rate cuts on inflation, currency attractiveness, and economic stability, while also highlighting the role of algorithmic trading, and quantitative funds in market volatility.
The panel explored whether Indian manufacturers could benefit from the global supply chains’ shift away from China with Indian firms progressing up the value chain, despite infrastructure and skill shortages. It also analysed gold and oil price trends, highlighting gold’s role as a reserve asset due to policy uncertainty and geopolitical risks. The panel also discussed India’s fiscal policy trajectory, stressing the importance of reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio and ensuring rupee stability, and passive investing’s impact on market efficiency and potential asset bubbles.
The presence of Mr Vijay Kedia and Ms Shrishti Sharma was a highlight of the event. Mr Kedia shared his wisdom, emphasising that market cycles are inevitable, stating, “Steeper the fall, greater the rise.” He urged investors to focus on the long-term story behind stocks rather than short-term fluctuations. He described his investment philosophy: “Don’t chase money, chase the story behind the stock. If the story is right, money will follow.” He stressed that successful investors require patience and conviction, adding, “Invest like a bull, sit like a bear, watch like an eagle.” When asked about exiting a stock, he advised, “If the story changes, sell the stock. But selling due to price fluctuations is a big mistake. “He emphasised infrastructure, EVs, and tourism as key industries for future growth.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, where students engaged with the panel on currency hedging and quantitative easing. The discussion underscored the need for financial literacy and strategic investment approaches in today’s volatile markets.
Overall, Investrix 2025 gave attendees invaluable insights into global financial trends, monetary policies, and investment strategies, reinforcing the importance of informed decision-making in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Hemangi Misra
MBA, K J Somaiya Institute of Management
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