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The stock markets new closing auction mechanism changes how closing prices are determined for F&O stocks. The shift from VWAP-based closing prices to auction-based pricing could impact index funds, ETFs and arbitrage funds by improving transparency and reducing tracking errors.
Franklin Templeton's new open-ended short term debt scheme, the Franklin India Short Term Fund opens NFO from 5th to 11th August. Here's all investors need to know about the scheme type, duration, minimum investment amount and potential risk class.
Factor investing has gained significant traction as investors increasingly seek rule-based strategies over traditional market-cap investing. While momentum has delivered the strongest long-term returns, the data shows that higher returns do not necessarily mean the highest risk.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara's Arjun Saluja taught us to chase FIRE, but how to protect it for 50 years
An early retiree must build a larger retirement corpus by targeting a lower withdrawal rate in retirement and by maintaining a margin of safety in the corpus to account for swings during multi-decadal economic cycles
Today, we look at how employees provident fund members can file a grievance with the retirement fund body, the step-by-step process to register a complaint, the customer care and social media alternatives.
The Centre said over 1.18 lakh eligible beneficiaries have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme since its rollout in April 2025. Introduced to provide an assured post-retirement income, the UPS continues as an optional pension framework under the NPS, with no review conducted so far.
More than 31.82 crore unorganised workers have registered on the e-Shram portal, gaining access to social security schemes and welfare services. The government has integrated multiple schemes and platforms to help workers access benefits, job opportunities, skill development and pension services.
8th pay commission: Vacancies for consultants open Here's who is eligible and how to apply
The 8th pay commission has invited candidates to apply for various consultant roles. Here's who is eligible, how to apply, the terms of the job, due date for application, salary offered and other details.
Marriage, money and modern expectations: Is India ready for the prenup talk?
Though prenuptial agreements face legal hurdles in Indian courts, an evolving marriage landscape demands a legal framework that balances pre-marital financial transparency with essential statutory protections.
Can you get a death claim on a lapsed life insurance policy? Here's what Consumer Commission says
The Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission rules that while a lapsed life insurance policy does not entitle nominees to a death benefit, fairness may still require insurers to refund premiums in exceptional circumstances.
Probate no longer mandatory: what it means for estate planning
The omission of Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 has changed the legal position on probate in India. While probate remains available, it is no longer a statutory precondition in cases that were earlier covered by Section 213.
Punjab High Court orders state govt to clear pending DA within 15 days Here's all we know
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Punjab government to clear pending dearness allowance arrears for employees and pensioners within two weeks. Dues are estimated at 15,000 crore, with penalties for late payment set at 6% interest.
Sectoral indices, including the Nifty India Defence, are often market-cap weighted with high stock concentration. Investors should understand index construction and risks, limiting sector funds to 15-20% of their portfolio, while considering diversified equity funds for overall better returns.
Assess beneficiaries' jurisdictions before planning cross-border succession
The choice between a trust and a will should be informed not only by control and asset protection considerations, but also by taxation, treaty relief and repatriation rules in those jurisdictions.
The 31 August ITR deadline is meant for specific taxpayers, including freelancers, professionals, traders and small business owners filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 without a tax audit. Eligibility depends on the applicable return form and whether audit provisions apply.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha today. It amends laws regarding payment systems and income tax, including the reinstatement of merchant discount rates on UPI transactions and other tax provisions for various sectors.
The survey found that 53% of respondents would move away from UPI for transactions above 3,000 if an MDR is imposed on large merchants.
SEBI warns investors against unauthorised unlisted share platforms. Check these 5 tips
SEBI has repeatedly cautioned investors against using unauthorised platforms for buying or selling unlisted shares. Here are 5 checks to verify platforms, safeguard personal information, understand regulatory risks and make informed investment decisions before investing in unlisted company shares.
SEBI's new GARUDA framework cuts the launch time for eligible AIF schemes to 10 working days. Experts explain how the reform could benefit investors while keeping regulatory safeguards intact.
TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund among 7 mutual funds to deliver over 20% return in 1 year
Just seven equity mutual funds delivered returns above 20% over the past year, led by TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund at 28.16%. Most top performers were smallcap funds, alongside focused, value, and midcap categories.
These 5 midcap mutual funds had maximum mid and small cap exposure in June. Check details
Here is the detailed exposure of the top 5 mid-cap funds with maximum mid & small cap exposure in June, as reported by ET Wealth.
NFO Alert: Jio-BlackRock enters India's ETF market with Nifty50 fund
JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has launched its first exchange-traded fund, the JioBlackRock Nifty 50 ETF, marking its entry into India's fast-growing ETF market. The NFO is open until August 11. The passive fund will track the Nifty50 Index, offering investors exposure to India's 50 largest listed companies through a single investment and broad participation in the country's equity market.
EPFO warns members to verify Date of Joining, Exit details or risk PF, pension benefits
EPFO has urged members to verify and correct their Date of Joining and Date of Exit details to avoid delays in PF withdrawals and pension claims. The advisory explains online correction rules, Aadhaar-linked UAN updates and employer approval requirements for eligible subscribers.
RBI's August 2026 redemption calendar lists six Sovereign Gold Bond tranches eligible for premature exit after the mandatory five-year holding period. Investors must apply within the prescribed window, as missing the deadline means waiting for the next eligible redemption date.
MCX, Radico Khaitan among 4 common stocks held by 5 top-performing smallcap funds
The five top-performing small-cap funds over the past year shared four common stocks in their portfolios as of June 2026, according to ACE MF data.
Quant MF ups IT exposure as sector enters neglected territory; sees crude correction
Quant Mutual Fund has raised its exposure to IT services over the past two months, viewing the sector as increasingly neglected and offering attractive opportunities. Its predictive analytics model also expects crude oil prices to gradually decline over the coming months, which the fund house believes could support Indian equities.
RBIs new FD rules from October: 5 changes small finance bank depositors must know
RBIs new fixed deposit rules for small finance banks will apply from October. The guidelines introduce advance-rate disclosures, uniform pricing, bulk-deposit rules and greater transparency.
Worked before UAN? Here's how EPFO's new portal helps you find and link old PF accounts
The upgraded EPFO portal lets members view their complete service history and identify older PF accounts that may not be linked to their UAN. Here's how employees who started working before UAN or Aadhaar can trace and consolidate their old EPF accounts.
MF Tracker: Bandhan Small Cap Fund tops 3-year returns. Can the outperformance continue?
Bandhan Small Cap Fund leads three-year returns with 25.35 percent gains. Stock selection drove this outperformance, according to expert analysis. The fund has consistently beaten its category average over time. Investors should consider risk and long-term strategy for investment decisions. Current market conditions offer a good entry point for patient investors.
Gold and silver prices today, 4 August: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
HDFC Bank launches Max for Seniors and Max for Her savings accounts; key features
HDFC Bank has introduced Max for Seniors and Max for Her savings accounts under its Savings Max portfolio. The accounts offer cyber protection, Auto Sweep benefits, insurance cover, health support and lifestyle privileges designed for senior citizens and women customers.
More than 1.18 lakh Central government employees and eligible retirees have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme. The Centre has told Parliament there is no proposal to review, modify or replace the pension scheme.
8th Pay Commission: The Commission is reviewing eight pensioner demands raised by RSCWS, including higher basic pay, revised HRA, transport allowance and stronger retirement benefits. The RSCWS proposals aim to improve pensions for Indian Railway employees.
The Union Ministry of Finance has made moves to enable merchant discount rates on UPI and proposed scrapping the zero MDR provision. We take a look at what this decision could mean for UPI customers.
REITs and REIT mutual funds offer investors exposure to the real estate sector but differ in structure, taxation, and returns. While REITs focus on rental income from properties, REIT funds combine REIT exposure with real estate equities.
If a similar mutual fund with a proven track record already exists in the market, experts say investors should prefer an established scheme unless the NFO offers a genuinely differentiated strategy that complements their portfolio and investment goals.
Only two value funds have negative alpha, indicating they lag their benchmark indices, while Quant Value Fund and DSP Value Fund record the highest positive alpha. The contrast in alpha was also reflected in return performance, with the positive-alpha funds delivering better returns.
Finance Ministry has approved an increase in EPF wage ceiling to 25,000 monthly from current 15,000, as per a Moneycontrol report. If approved this would expand coverage to more salaried workers.
How capital gains on foreign shares are computed and taxed in India
Upon returning to India, the person must compute capital gains from US shares in INR, using the exchange rate from the sale date. No concessions for rupee depreciation apply. Long-term gains are taxed at 12.5%, and disclosure of foreign assets is required for tax purposes.
DA, 7,500 minimum monthly pension, medical facilities Here's what the EPS95 National Agitation Committee is seeking from the government. It has warned of a protest on 5 August if demands are not met.
SEBI's new GARUDA framework has brought Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) into the spotlight. While the industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, AIFs remain less familiar than mutual funds. Here's how experts explain the investment vehicle, who it is meant for and how SEBI classifies it.
PhonePe Mutual Funds sees 5X growth in Daily SIP transactions driven by demand from smaller cities
PhonePe Mutual Funds onboarded over 500,000 unique investors into its Daily SIP product. Nearly seventy-seven percent of these customers came from tier-two and tier-three cities. Daily SIP transactions increased nearly five-fold between January and June 2026. Younger investors aged eighteen to twenty-nine formed fifty-eight percent of the investor base. This feature allows small, regular contributions, aligning with daily cash flows.
Monsoon damage isn't limited to leaks and flooding. Experts explain what home insurance covers, key exclusions, and why both homeowners and tenants should review their policies.
Flexi-cap funds stay 61% invested in large caps, multi-cap funds remain balanced: Report
Despite flexibility in their mandate, flexi-cap funds remain more biased towards large-cap stocks, with 61% allocation. On the other hand, multi-cap funds maintain a more balanced exposure across large, mid, and small-cap segments.
Although payments for Annapurna Bhandar are generally credited in a phased manner during the first week of the month, many bank accounts have yet to receive the funds
Delhi has approved 100% salary hike for DDMA personnel, including project officers, district project officers, and project coordinators. The first such in 16 years, since the positions were created in 2009.
NFO Alert: Franklin Templeton announces launch of short term fund
Franklin Templeton India has launched its new open-ended short term debt fund. The Franklin India Short Term Fund will open for subscription on August 5. This new fund aims to invest in high-quality debt instruments and government securities. It will maintain a portfolio Macaulay duration between one and three years. The fund seeks to provide investors with income potential and prudent risk management.
These 8 equity mutual funds lost over 10% return in July. Do you own any in your portfolio?
Eight international equity mutual funds posted double-digit losses in July, led by Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund. Experts attribute the decline to a correction in global technology and AI stocks.
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank hike FCNR rates Check here for how much interest depositors now get
India's largest private sector lenders HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have both hiked their FCNR (Bank) interest rates this month. Check here for how much fixed deposit interest NRI depositors now get
Should investors redeem equity mutual funds after strong returns? Here's when rebalancing matters
Portfolio reviews every six to 12 months are generally sufficient for long-term investors, according to Prableen Bajpai of FinFix Research and Analytics. She advises rebalancing only when asset allocation deviates meaningfully, financial goals approach, or major life events warrant a review.
Passive funds go niche: should you bet on sectoral or thematic funds?
Passive investing has moved beyond broad-market indices. As sectoral and thematic index funds multiply, experts explain the opportunities, risks and who should actually invest.
Why aligning incentives a better alternative to capping insurance commissions
India scrapped insurance commission caps in 2023, but calls to revive them are growing. Evidence suggests transparency, staggered payouts and disclosurenot capsare more effective at curbing mis-selling.
This international mutual fund resumes subscription. Should you invest or wait?
Baroda BNP Paribas Aqua Fund of Fund is once again open to fresh subscriptions after a brief pause. Following regulatory nods, the fund aims to efficiently handle overseas investment limits. Investors should avoid market timing; instead, utilizing SIPs or STPs for cost averaging is encouraged. For those seeking global exposure, consider alternatives like GIFT City products or global ETFs.
PM VBRY: Link Aadhaar with bank account in 8 simple steps to enable Direct Benefit Transfer
PM VBRY beneficiaries can enable Direct Benefit Transfer by linking their Aadhaar with a bank account through NPCI. This guide explains the eight key steps, offline Aadhaar seeding, and how completing the process helps ensure timely incentive payments.
Income tax refund adjustment against old tax demands: What AY 2026-27 taxpayers should know
Income tax refunds for AY 2026-27 may be adjusted against pending tax demands. Taxpayers should verify notices, respond through the e-filing portal, clear valid dues, and dispute incorrect demands to avoid refund delays and compliance issues.
How do Fed rates impact the Indian markets and your money?
The US Federal Reserve's interest-rate decisions influence currencies, markets and borrowing costs worldwide. Here's how a Fed pause can affect India's economy, investments and your finances.
Sensex, Nifty underperform over 2 years, but these 3 mutual funds deliver double-digit gains
Benchmark indices like Sensex and Nifty 50 showed negative returns over two years. However, select midcap, smallcap, and multicap funds delivered double-digit gains. These funds benefited from active stock selection and exposure to different market segments. Experts advise a balanced approach, combining index and actively managed funds. Investors should focus on asset allocation and gradual investments through SIPs.
A Kerala consumer court ordered Federal Bank to pay 1.25 lakh after blocking a customer's international debit card without prior notice. The ruling reinforces that banks must communicate card blocks promptly, especially when customers are travelling abroad.
Gold and silver prices today, 3 August: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
8th Pay Commission: Employee unions are seeking annual increments of up to 7%. Illustrative projections show how 3%, 5% and 6% annual increments could significantly increase central government employees' basic pay over five years through compounding.
Can unpaid business expenses be claimed as tax deduction? ITAT Mumbai's ruling explains when you can
A redevelopment firm won tax relief after the ITAT ruled its 8 crore tenant compensation provision was not contingent. The order explains when unpaid business liabilities can still be claimed as deductible expenses.
Filed your ITR before 31 July but found an error later? Tax expert explains who can revise and how
Filed your ITR before the 31 July deadline but spotted an error later? Eligible taxpayers can still revise their return under Section 139(5). Here's who can file a revised ITR, the process and the key documents to verify.
After years of small and mid-cap outperformance, large caps could be poised for a stronger phase. A new report cites six factors, including improving economic growth, attractive valuations and supportive macro trends, while urging investors to maintain a balanced market-cap approach.
Small-cap funds have emerged as the best-performing equity category in FY27 so far, delivering an average return of 22.31% between 1 April and 31 July. They were followed by mid-cap funds with 17.22%, flexi-cap funds with 14.06%, and large-cap funds with 10.52% returns.
How to calculate capital gains on NPS Tier II withdrawals
The eNPS portal does not currently provide a separate capital gains statement for Tier II accounts. Here's how withdrawals may be taxed and what investors need to know.
Income-tax returns: The due date for ITR-1 and 2 passed on 31 July, but taxpayers using ITR-3 and 4 have time to complete their process. Amid the tax season, we explain what invoices and documents employees should retain to support tax-free reimbursements.
With international mutual funds facing investment restrictions due to overseas limits, investors can explore domestic mutual funds with significant foreign equity exposure. A total of 15 equity and hybrid funds have invested in foreign stocks, including two schemes with more than 26% exposure.
Want to check your employees provident fund (EPF) balance, contributions, interest earned or download your passbook? Here's how you can do so using the official EPFO portal, Umang app, SMS, missed call or helpline.
A 100% debt portfolio delivered an average annual return of 6.79% with volatility of 6.38%. However, adding a 10% equity allocation improved returns to 7.99% while reducing volatility to 5.76%, showing that higher equity exposure does not always translate into higher portfolio risk.
The 8th central pay commission (CPC) has closed its window for data submission this week. Here's a look at the latest updates on its group consultations process before the panel makes its recommendations.
RBI fixed deposit rules changes: Could this impact FD interest rates for customers? We explain
RBI has allowed banks to offer differential interest rates on bulk deposits based on their liquidity risk under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) framework. We explain how this impacts customers and if this could affect your fixed deposit rates with banks
Looking for top SIP performers? These 7 equity mutual funds delivered over 20% returns in 10 years
Only seven diversified equity mutual funds delivered annualised SIP returns of over 20% in the last 10 years, excluding sectoral and thematic schemes. A 10,000 monthly SIP in these funds grew to as much as 38.8 lakh, with small- and mid-cap funds dominating the rankings.
Multi-asset allocation funds attracted nearly 38,027 crore in H1 2026, about seven times the inflows into balanced advantage funds. The gap was driven by strong gold and silver returns, investor return-chasing behaviour, and fresh fund launches in the multi-asset category.
Dearness Allowance or DA is a percentage of basic salary, reviewed twice annually, and aimed at offsetting the impact of inflation for government employees and pensioners. Here's a look at all the dearness allowance announcements so far
Financial experts say behavioural biases such as recency bias, loss aversion and FOMO often lead investors to buy after rallies and sell during market corrections.
Though PPF comes with a lot of benefits, some common mistakes can make you lose key benefits or shrink your final corpus. Here's everything you need to know.
The July 31 ITR filing deadline has passed, but many taxpayers still have time to file their returns. Here's who must file by August 31, October 31 or November 30 under the revised filing calendar for AY 2026-27.
The deadline for ITR filing has passed, yet a viral claim about a Pune CA earning 12 lakh from nearly 400 clients during this peak tax season has sparked debate.
The Gujarat High Court has held that the Income Tax Department cannot retrospectively apply the expanded powers under Section 55A to reopen old property valuation disputes. The ruling offers clarity for taxpayers involved in legacy capital gains cases.
How health insurance portability is becoming a trap for policyholders
Portability, a framework designed to benefit policyholders, is increasingly being driven by sales incentives, despite regulations prohibiting it. Consequently, the weakest link becomes the advice provided by the intermediary facilitating the switch, often with little accountability.
Why fixed income remains a portfolio stabiliser during uncertain times
Investors face geopolitical risks and inflation pressures, leading to increased focus on fixed-income securities. Experts advise on building diversified bond portfolios across ratings and maturities to limit volatility, sustain income, and achieve financial goals effectively.
Edelweiss Mutual Fund is launching India's first REITs-oriented index fund, the Edelweiss Nifty REITs & Realty Index Fund, offering investors diversified exposure to listed REITs and real estate companies through a single passive fund. The NFO opens on August 5 and closes on August 19, with the fund aiming to provide tax-efficient access to the listed real estate ecosystem.
Mutual fund NFOs: 7 new funds will open for subscription this week. Check dates
Seven mutual fund NFOs from Kotak, Motilal Oswal, AlphaGrep, JioBlackRock, Edelweiss and Franklin India will open for subscription this week. The offers span index funds, ETFs, a fund of funds and a short-duration debt scheme, with minimum investments ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 5,000.
What happens to your EPF account when you take a career break for 12 years? Explained
Taking a career break allows your EPF account to remain active, continuing to earn interest until you turn 58. You can withdraw up to 75% after unemployment, but tax applies unless you've completed five years of continuous service before withdrawal.
The Telangana High Court has ruled that taxpayers cannot lose Section 54F capital gains exemption solely because a builder delayed completing or registering a home. The judgment says delays beyond the taxpayer's control should not defeat the tax benefit if the investment has already been made.
Equity mutual funds gained up to 6% in last week of July. Check top 15 with over 3% gain
Equity mutual funds delivered gains up to six percent in the last week of July. Top performers included technology and transportation sector funds which saw significant returns. SBI Technology Opp Fund and Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund led the gains. ICICI Pru Transportation and Logistics Fund also performed well during this period. Several other tech and logistics funds also registered positive returns.
SCSS provides government-backed safety and regular quarterly income, while Small Finance Bank FDs offer flexibility and competitive rates. Explore a detailed comparison of returns, risk, liquidity and tax advantages before choosing the right retirement investment strategy.
Millennial investor Todd Baldwin became a millionaire in his 30s by employing a combination of real estate and equity investment. Here's how he used the housing hacking strategy to gain rental income and invested it in index funds.
Bank holidays this week: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, PNB and other banks across India will be closed for upto three days this week, but digital platforms like UPI and banking apps will remain operational.
The motorcycle and the Ferrari: when to indulge and when to hold back
Buy the Ferrari, by all means, on the day you become the person who has earned it. Until then, it's fine to admire one zooming past, and getting on with the un-Ferrari years that are the real work.
