Sberbank Offers Russian Retail Investors Access to Indian Stock Market Benchmarked to Nifty50 Index

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, has launched a new mutual fund, offering access for Russian retail investors to India's top equity index – Nifty50.  

This move marks a significant financial collaboration between the two countries and allows investors in Russia to diversify via Indian assets. 

Sberbank Introduces First-India Mutual Fund Aligned with Nifty50 

Sberbank, along with JSC First Asset Management, has introduced a new fund named First-India for Russian investors. The fund’s returns are linked to the performance of the Nifty50 index, which tracks 50 of India's largest and most liquid companies.  

This initiative opens a structured route for Russian retail investors to invest in one of Asia's most dynamic capital markets. 

The fund was officially launched during Sberbank CEO Herman Gref’s visit to India. The announcement took place at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), underscoring growing financial cooperation between India and Russia. 

India-Russia Financial Bridge Strengthened Through this Launch 

NSE’s MD and CEO, Ashishkumar Chauhan, noted that this development signals long-term confidence in Indian markets from global institutions.  

Until now, Russian individuals had no direct route for personal investing in Indian equities. With the First-India fund, Sberbank aims to provide a simplified investment path by using Nifty50 as the benchmark. 

The fund adds to over 22 passive international funds currently tracking Nifty50, along with more than 45 India-based index funds following the same benchmark. 

Read More: India-Russia Trade Deficit in Focus Ahead of Putin’s Visit! 

Conclusion 

Sberbank’s launch of the First-India mutual fund paves the way for Russian retail investors to engage with India’s equity markets. This fund marks a meaningful step in fostering cross-border financial inclusion and reflects strengthening India-Russia investment ties. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities or companies mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.