Equity mutual funds continued to post solid performance, with at least five diversified schemes delivering returns above 15% over the last nine months, supported by domestic flows and earnings resilience. Fund managers increased exposure to manufacturing, financials and capital goods while trimming rate-sensitive allocations. SIP contributions remained steady, aiding staggered deployment amid intermittent volatility. Analysts advised investors to align choices with risk tolerance and time horizon, noting that rolling-return consistency and expense ratios materially influence outcomes. Market breadth and midcap participation also supported category performance during the review period meaningfully.