The Franklin FTSE India ETF (FLIN) is navigating turbulent waters as foreign capital exits the market amidst a significant equity downturn. This challenging environment emerges even as domestic investors demonstrate unprecedented confidence, opening record numbers of new trading accounts. The combined effect has pushed major Indian benchmarks toward their first negative annual performance since 2020.
Domestic Optimism Counters Foreign Exodus
A dramatic shift in investment patterns is unfolding across Indian markets. Foreign portfolio investors liquidated holdings worth ₹30,141.68 crore during September 2025 alone, following even larger outflows of ₹46,902.92 crore the previous month. This substantial capital flight has exerted considerable pressure on key indices, with the Sensex declining 5.5% and the Nifty 50 dropping 5.05% year-to-date.
Counterbalancing this foreign retreat, India’s domestic investor base continues to expand at an impressive rate. The country now boasts 120 million registered domestic investors, with 2.9 crore new Systematic Investment Plan accounts activated between April and August 2025. This substantial growth signals persistent optimism among local market participants despite the challenging conditions.
Performance Metrics Reflect Growing Pressure
Recent performance data reveals a concerning trend for the India-focused ETF:
- One-week performance: -0.83%
- One-month performance: -0.60%
- Three-month performance: -1.21%
- Year-to-date performance: +5.32%
While the fund maintains positive returns for the calendar year, a clear downward trajectory has emerged in shorter timeframes. Trading activity remains robust with approximately 367,620 shares changing hands daily, providing sufficient liquidity for larger positions.
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Concentration Risk in Financial Heavyweights
The FLIN ETF maintains 267 individual holdings, yet its performance remains heavily dependent on a select few companies. The ten largest positions collectively account for 33% of the fund’s total assets, creating significant concentration in India’s corporate leaders:
- HDFC Bank Ltd: 6.95%
- Reliance Industries Ltd: 5.97%
- ICICI Bank Ltd: 4.70%
- Bharti Airtel Ltd: 3.29%
- Infosys Ltd: 3.21%
Financial sector exposure represents 27.50% of the portfolio, making the ETF particularly vulnerable to the fortunes of major banking institutions. The ability of HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank to reverse the current market slide will substantially influence the fund’s direction.
Competitive Fee Structure Offers Silver Lining
Among its competitive advantages, FLIN maintains an expense ratio of just 0.19%, positioning it favorably against alternative India-focused products like the iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) and WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI). Whether this cost benefit can retain investor interest during market declines remains uncertain.
Market observers noted a potential shift on September 29, 2025, when Indian benchmark indices snapped a six-day losing streak, driven primarily by strength in IT, oil and gas, and metal stocks. The critical question for investors is whether this represents a genuine trend reversal or merely a temporary pause before further declines.
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