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RBI MPC Meeting Highlights: RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25%, maintains neutral stance
RBI MPC 2025, RBI Monetary Policy Meeting Outcomes, RBI MPC Meeting December 2025 News & Highlights: Here are the major live updates related to the latest bi-monthly RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
ESAF Small Finance Bank eyes 1 lakh cr total biz of by 2030
Bank chief outlines universal bank plans
IRDAI tells insurers to mobilise resources for speedy settlement of Assam flood claims
The insurers have been advised to communicate the nomination of a Senior Executive to the Chief Secretary immediately
Ionic Wealth rolls out AI tool for personalised investment portfolio analysis
The feature syncs an investors data from Mutual Fund Central with Ionics internal market, macroeconomic, and asset class knowledge
UGRO Capitals GROx platform disburses 1,853 crore in Q1FY27, crosses 3.4 lakh active customers
GROx AUM reached 3,003 crore on June 30, 2026, a 32% increase from 2,280 crore in March 2026 and nearly four times higher than five quarters ago
Electronic mode of payment outside negative list likely to attract MDR
Bill will enable the government to notify which instruments, category of people making payment, threshold, etc for exemption from MDR
10 lakh investment plan: Find the right equity, hybrid and debt allocation for your financial goals
For non-resident Indians, foreign currency non-resident bank fixed deposits remain a favored investment choice. With an uptick in interest rates for tenures ranging from three to five years, Punjab National Bank currently leads with an attractive 6.50% rate on select five-year deposits. Meanwhile, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank also showcase appealing rates for extended FCNR(B) deposits.
67% higher EPS pension? How Rs 25,000 EPF wage ceiling could increase your monthly payout
EPF wage ceiling: The Employees Provident Fund wage ceiling may increase to Rs 25,000. This change will bring more employees under the EPF and EPS schemes. Employees' in-hand salaries might decrease while their retirement corpus grows. The Employees Pension Scheme pension will likely increase significantly for eligible members. This revision aims to enhance retirement benefits for a larger workforce.
Noida property prices went up by 125% to Rs 10,780 per square feet, Bangalore by 90% to Rs 9,450 per square feet from 2019 to 2026; Know Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad prices. Check the trend.
Senior citizen allotted inconvenient parking spot by builder in 2011 leading her to park car in open space; Housing society levied penalty on her for parking in open space; Maharashtra Co-Op Appellate court gives her relief and orders society to give her a convenient spot
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.
How resident Indians can invest in US stocks, ETFs and global mutual funds via GIFT City | Explained
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.
Gold prices experienced a slight dip across major brands today. Tanishq and other leading jewelers reported lower rates for 22k gold. Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas also followed this trend.Consumers can compare rates from various brands for potential purchases.
The Expenditure Department has granted approval to increase the EPF wage ceiling to Rs 25,000, aiming to expand mandatory provident fund and pension plans to more employees.
RBI seen holding rates as inflation risk stay in focus
The committee is also likely to retain a neutral stance, with inflation remaining within the RBIs 2%-6% tolerance band and Malhotra signalling policymakers would act only if price pressures become more broad-based
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.
EPFO e-Office app services to remain unavailable on this date due to system upgrade
Attention users: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation e-Office application will not be accessible on August 5 for essential system upgrades initiated by the NIC e-Office team. This means certain functionalities will experience constraints. Additionally, EPFO services through the UMANG app will also face downtime due to system migrations. Expect mild delays in processing claims and services during this period.
ET Wealth Reader's Query: I own a 2-BHK flat and my wife is a joint owner. We have two children, who are settled abroad. After my death, the housing society will transfer the flat to my wife, based on nomination and my will (unregistered). After the transfer, can she sell the flat without a no objection certificate (NOC) from our children? If she doesnt sell it, can she transfer it to our son via a gift deed without an NOC from our daughter?
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.
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.
Bank Retirees body wants payment of ex-gratia to private sector bank pensioners
AKBRF alleged that private sector banks such as DLB, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, RBL Bank and SIB have not implemented payment of ex-gratia to the pensioners
NPCI explains how scammers target your money; shares tips to protect your bank account, UPI
A life insurer denied a seventy lakh death claim after a policy lapsed. The policyholder had paid seven lakh as the first year premium. The consumer commission ordered the insurer to refund this initial premium payment. This decision prevented unjust enrichment by the insurance company. Policyholders must pay premiums on time to maintain active life cover.
Selling Indian investments triggers capital gains tax for NRIs, with rules varying by asset type. Property sales offer significant tax reduction opportunities through reinvestment and documentation. Agricultural land taxation depends on its location, with rural land generally exempt from tax. Listed shares and mutual funds have specific tax treatments and exemptions for long-term gains. Careful planning and seeking expert advice are crucial before selling any Indian asset.
Govt to offload 6.54% in LIC, likely to get over 31,000 crore
Based on the floor price, it is expected to generate over 31,000 crore for the government, marking the largest OFS proceeds to date
Private banks top FCNR (B) deposit drive led by ICICI, HSBC; SBI No. 1 PSB
The scheme aims to attract stable foreign currency inflows, strengthen Indias balance of payments, bolster forex reserves and support rupee stability
Monisha Chakraborty named RBI Executive Director; to oversee forex and financial markets departments
A career central banker with over 30 years experience, Chakraborty previously served as Chief General Manager, Department of Supervision
SBI Pension Funds crosses 6 lakh crore in AUM
Managing Director and CEO Pranay Ranjan Dwivedi attributed the growth to subscriber trust and a long-term investment discipline
Financial services landscape undergoing a fundamental shift: JFSL chief
KV Kamath says era of traditional moats being challenged
HDFC Bank launches new savings accounts for senior citizens, women: Check features and benefits
HDFC Bank introduced two new savings accounts for specific customer groups. The Special Senior Citizen Savings Account offers security and doorstep banking services. Women can avail the SavingsMax Account with lifestyle and health benefits.
ICICI Lombard unveils 25 product innovations on 25th anniversary
The announcements come as Indias largest private general insurer crosses 25 years of operations, having served over 500 million customers and settled more than 60 million claims
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.
DBS hires ex-Standard Chartered banker to lead India wealth team
DBS Bank India announced that Chengappa has joined the firm as Managing Director and Head of Treasures Business and Wealth Management
Taxpayers who filed their income tax returns by the July 31 deadline are now awaiting refunds. The Income Tax Department processes refunds after successful e-verification of the filed returns.
Jio Financial Services eyes next growth phase with AI and global partnerships
The company is expanding its digital finance ecosystem through AI, strategic partnerships and rapid growth across lending, payments and asset management
Surrender and withdrawals as a share of total benefits paid by life insurers rise to 39%
Surrender and withdrawal benefits paid by life insurers have increased significantly. These benefits now exceed maturity benefits paid by the life insurance sector. Policy surrenders are influenced by various factors, including product suitability and affordability. The insurance regulator monitors these trends and takes necessary supervisory measures. IRDAI has established a framework to safeguard policyholders' interests and ensure fair surrender benefits.
Fed's Williams expects inflation to ease, says Fed will act if it doesn't
Williams reiterated the current stance of interest rate policy is well positioned to bring inflation back to target
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.
State Bank of India, HSBC and ICICI lead India's overseas deposit drive, data shows
ICICI Bank leads private-sector peers with about $3.7 billion in deposits under the scheme. HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, the countrys largest and third-largest private lenders respectively, raise about $1.5 billion each
Using pick-up and drop for car service? Know who pays if an accident happens
Service centres cannot evade responsibility for accidents during vehicle pick-up and drop-off. A signed waiver does not absolve them of negligence or deficient service. Insurance companies may still cover claims, then recover costs from the negligent party. Dealers face direct liability, while manufacturers' responsibility is less automatic. Damage within service centre premises shifts significant legal burden to the centre.
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.
Will FD investors get higher interest rates as Iran-US war continues and inflation shoots?
Rising inflation and increased credit demand are pushing banks towards higher fixed deposit rates. Banks are also facing competition from small savings schemes and government securities. Deposit growth has slowed while credit demand has climbed significantly in recent months. This widening gap may compel banks to attract more deposits through better rates. Banks may revise fixed deposit rates after any Reserve Bank of India policy changes.
The Bankers Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which seeks to repeal the 1891 Act, provides for a technology-neutral legal framework for bankers books
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.
Gold price today: Gold prices remained steady on Monday, August 3, 2026, across major Indian jewelry brands. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association provided indicative rates for various gold purities. These rates may fluctuate based on location and taxes.
8th Pay Commission salary calculator: How Level 1 employees' basic pay could double in just 7 years
HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have raised FCNR(B) deposit rates by twenty-five basis points. This increase applies to select US dollar FCNR(B) deposit tenures, effective August 2026. The government will bear hedging costs on three to five-year FCNR(B) deposits until September 2026.
Karnataka Bank launches KBL Finsurance platform
The project is powered by SprintMoney, a fintech company providing a comprehensive suite of white-labelled digital solutions to banks and financial institutions
Are housing societies allowed to impose user charges for facilities like gyms or swimming pools separately from maintenance? Know what the law says. The law says the Apartment Owners Association cannot impose arbitrary, retrospective or discriminatory charges that effectively deny equal access to common amenities.
New Reserve Bank of India rules will change bank deposit interest rate disclosures starting October 2026. Banks will gain flexibility in setting interest rates for bulk deposits of three crore rupees and above. These institutions must now publish bulk deposit rates on their websites daily by ten AM.
India's bank credit growth remains robust at 18.6% in June 2026: Haitong Securities
The report said overall bank credit, estimated at around Rs 219 trillion, grew 18.6% year-on-year (YoY) in June 2026, while non-food credit expanded 18.3% YoY
Sun Pharma to Thermax: 10 stocks Motilal Oswal is buying, selling and neutral on post Q1 results
Personal loan vs credit card: Here's exactly when to use each one during an emergency
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.
Economists and market experts believe the RBI is unlikely to rush into any change in interest rates despite persistent global headwinds, including elevated crude oil prices and a relatively hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve
Big age gap between children? It comes at a cost
Kids years apart can mean juggling childcare and college costs at the same time, often delaying retirement.
Social Stock Exchange: Whats in it for investors?
Every SSE listing goes through months of due diligence, financial and social audits.
REIT mutual funds vs REITs: Who has the edge?
REIT mutual funds just fixed the tax drag that kept sharp investors on the sidelines, along with illiquidity and concentration risk.
SIFs: Everything you need to know before investing
A guide to the objective, strategy, risk band and red flags that separate a good SIF from a risky bet.
How teenagers can master the art of budgeting
Bala eyed a Rs.1,500 online shopping cart with a tech organiser and gel pens. But with a Rs.2,500 monthly allowance, he realised buying both meant giving up his Friday pizza. He kept only the gel pens, saved Rs.1,000, and learned that budgeting is about making smart choices. Good money management starts with knowing where your money goes.
Can seller tracking end insurance mis-selling?
Some carmakers sell vehicles without a spare wheel, offering just a puncture repair kit instead. Nobody proposes a register of the salesmen who sold these cars because we know the choice was made above their level. The agent sitting across from an insurance buyer is in the same position, as hes not the author of the incentive he answers to but merely its executor.
Why gifting wealth early makes sense
Gifting and charity, in cash and kind, during ones lifetime offers the scope for creating shared experiences of celebration, travel, entertainment and eating out together, for both generations. The caveat, of course, is the inability and perhaps unwillingness of seniors to make spending decisions.
Market returns: Micro caps & small caps lead in 2026
Heres our TrendMap, your quick guide to the performance of different investment segments. No single segment always leads. In this edition, we present a 10-year equity performance tracker, ranking annual returns across market-cap segments. Investors risk appetite has turned more selective in 2026 so far. By Sameer Bhardwaj.
Oil jumps 20% in July as US-Iran war escalates
Oil prices saw volatility last week but are set for significant monthly gains. Escalating United States-Iran tensions and Houthi attacks are impacting global energy markets. Saudi Arabia is forming an alliance to protect Red Sea navigation from militant blockades. Concerns also persist regarding supply disruptions in the Black Sea region. Energy markets are reacting to geopolitical events and drawing down United States stockpiles.
Muthoot is to gold loan what SBI is to banking, George Alexander Muthoot
For our customers, gold loans remain primarily a short-term financing product.
India approves just 1 Chinese FDI proposal worth 1 cr, 13 Hong Kong proposals worth 610.42 cr
These approvals are crucial, as investments from countries sharing a land border with India have required prior government approval since April 2020 under DPIITs Press Note 3
Builder's hired firm wanted to pay 56 tenants additional Rs 8 crore to vacate land; Tax Dept sent notice citing this payment as contingent liability; ITAT Mumbai cancels tax notice and rejects tax dept's contention. Know the full details of what happened in this case.
IRDAI mandates approval at every key ownership threshold in insurers as sector opens up
The most significant change relates to prior approval for share transfers
RBI likely to hold rates in August, retain hawkish tone: Economists
The MPC will meet between August 3 and August 5 to decide on the policy rates.
No plan to monetise subsidiaries, focus on enhancing their value: PNB MD
PNBs capital adequacy improved to 18.13% as on June 30, 2026, compared to 17.5% at the end of the first quarter of the previous fiscal year
Know Your Fund Manager | Gaurav Chopra, Fund Manager Equity at Union AMC
With over a decade of experience in equity research, portfolio management and fund management, Union Mutual Fund's fund manager shares his career journey, investment philosophy and the principles that guide his approach to creating long-term wealth for investors.
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.
Lady got tax notice after selling land for Rs 92 lakh and reporting Rs 22.94 lakh LTCG in ITR; Know how Section 55A(a) helped her win case in Gujarat HC after 9 years fight. Read the article to know the details.
IIRM Holdings raises 150 crore from Carpediem Capital, Sanshi Fund-I
The proceeds will fund expansion, acquisitions, capital expenditure and working capital
CBI books Reliance Capital, ex-chairman Anil Ambani for causing EPFO loss of over 1,800 crore
The action stems from a July 21 complaint by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment alleging cheating, criminal conspiracy, and causing wrongful loss to the EPFO
UPI clocks record 23.66 billion transactions in July as everyday usage powers growth
UPI transaction volumes rose 4.1% month-on-month from 22.72 billion in June, while the value of transactions increased 3.3% from 28.92 lakh crore
UPI transactions reach record high of 29.9 lakh cr in July
UPI transactions touched a record high of 29.9 lakh crore in May 2026
Muthoot Finance announces leadership succession: Names Alexander George as MD
Muthoot Finance has unveiled a leadership transition as it prepares for its next growth phase after achieving record business milestones
Muthoot Finance Q1 profit rises 25% to 2,550 crore; gold loan AUM jumps 44%
Strong demand for gold-backed credit helped Muthoot Finance deliver record loan growth and double-digit profit expansion in the first quarter
Karnataka Banks total business crosses 2 lakh cr
The gross aggregate business of the bank stood at 1,97,006.62 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
Builder delayed villa's construction by 4 years, thus tax dept denied Section 54F tax exemption to homebuyer; Telangana HC says homebuyer can't be penalised for builder's fault and gives him 54F tax exemption. Know how homebuyer won Section 54F tax exemption case in Telangana High Court.
Sundaram Home Finance hikes interest rates for fixed deposits
Interest rate hiked 0.25% to 7.25% for 3 year deposits and to 7.40% for 4 and 5 year deposits for regular category
Homebuyers lost access to his parking spot after neighbour parked his 2nd car there; Maharashtra co-op appellate court dismissed homebuyers' plea on this ground. The court held that a parking allotment made by a housing society to the original owner does not automatically pass to the 2nd purchaser of the flat. Know more.
For theft of mangalsutra, State Bank of India (SBI) passbook and cash in Rajdhani 3AC coach, North Railways ordered to pay Rs 80,000 compensation to husband and wife duo; Know why. This article has the details.
