Livemint

Consumption funds have delivered widely different returns over the past three years, despite focusing on the same broad theme. Find out what drove this divergence, the role of stock selection, key sectors, and the risks investors should consider.

Bitcoin and Dogecoin have emerged as the most popular crypto pairing among Indian investors across age groups, according to a report. While younger investors are driving new participation, older investors display stronger buying conviction and greater portfolio diversification.

NRIs are permitted to open and maintain FCNR(B) accounts jointly with eligible resident relatives, subject to certain conditions.

A Karnataka consumer commission has ruled that if gold jewellery pledged for a loan is stolen from a bank, the lender must compensate for the gold value, making charges and stone value. Canara Bank was ordered to pay 88,362 with 9% interest, plus compensation.

In 2026, planning for a child's education fund is complex due to shifting career paths. Experts advise creating flexible investment structures.

Income Tax Returns (ITRs) are essential for lenders to assess borrowers' financial stability. Taxpayers should monitor communications from the Income Tax Department post-deadline for any discrepancies in filings. While minor errors can be resolved, serious issues may lead to scrutiny.

The RBI has cut short the deadline for its special FCNR(B) deposit swap facility to 31 August from 30 September. With the window closing soon, NRIs need to weigh the potential benefits of higher foreign currency returns against the lock-in and liquidity considerations.

Credit score assessment relies heavily on four pillars: your track record of repaying debts, the proportion of available funds you currently use, the longevity of your active accounts, and the frequency of your recent loan applications.

Axis Direct data reveals a 53% rise in Gen Z investors aged 18-30, with significant growth in Tier-2 cities. Women now represent 13% of new additions. 

Claiming HRA along with home loan benefits is allowed in certain situations, but mismatches in rent, property status, or loan details can attract tax notices. Heres what taxpayers should know about location rules, eligibility, and documentation. 

Experts found that, unlike 14-carat jewellery in its early days, the 9KT category is gaining awareness and trending in line with expectations.

State-backed lenders often provide competitive interest terms based on loan brackets. Bank of Maharashtra offers interest rates ranging from 7.00% to 9.90%, while the rates at Central Bank of India range between 7.00% and 9.15%.

Income Plus Arbitrage FoFs combine debt and arbitrage strategies, but their tax treatment can differ from that of debt funds. For investors in higher tax brackets, this difference could affect the returns they ultimately take home. Find out why.

Credit cards now offer valuable perks like complimentary airport lounge access, which is becoming harder to obtain for free due to banks tightening policies. However, some cards still provide unlimited access without spending thresholds. Check details

With the 31 August ITR deadline approaching, business and professional taxpayers need to know which return applies to them and which supporting tax forms may be relevant. From ITR-3 and ITR-4 to TDS and audit-related forms, heres what to check before filing.

NPS can help gig workers, freelancers and self-employed individuals build a retirement corpus even when their monthly income fluctuates. Experts suggest saving a percentage of each payout, starting early and making larger contributions during stronger earning months.

Selling gold can incur capital gains tax as they are considered as a capital asset by the income tax department. Here's whether you can eliminate or reduce your tax liability by investing the proceeds into new gold jewellery. 

Indian equity mutual fund inflows have fallen nearly 30% over two years despite no crash, illustrating why simple investing advice is intellectually easy but emotionally hard to follow.

Section 54F exemption: Explore steps to claim tax benefit following share sale in case of 2 houses. Chartered accountant Mahesh Nyak answered how one can claim exemption through HUF transfer.

Investors with a large corpus can either invest it in equity at once or stagger the deployment through a six-month STP. FundsIndias 25-year Nifty 50 data shows that lumpsum had a modest edge in the medium term, but the return gap narrowed over longer periods.

India's family office ecosystem is poised for significant growth, with assets estimated at 70,000 crore in 2024 and projected to grow 1.5 times in three years. Here's a list of investment avenues that are gaining traction among the country's richest families.

The ITAT deleted a 2.33 crore tax addition after finding that Bhupendra Flour Mills had recorded earlier cash withdrawals of 2.325 crore and the Income Tax Department could not prove the money was used elsewhere. 

A retired income tax officer was defrauded of 51 lakh by fraudsters impersonating police from Lucknow, who claimed he was under investigation for money laundering. Here's what happened.

Sebis proposed digital KYC overhaul could let NRIs, OCIs and eligible foreign nationals complete onboarding remotely, cutting paperwork, costs and delays while making it easier to invest in India.

Only four focused mutual funds delivered more than 15% SIP returns over five years, led by Invesco India Focused Fund at 18.33%. SBI Focused Fund, the category's largest scheme by AUM, delivered 15.27%, while returns across funds ranged from 7.92% to 18.33%.

The Mumbai ITAT deleted a 25 lakh tax addition imposed on a flat buyer over an alleged cash payment, saying the taxpayer was not given the statements relied upon by the tax department or an opportunity to cross-examine the builders partners.

Starting August 26, eligible women in Delhi will receive pension letters under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, which offers 2,500 monthly assistance. Here's when the aid will be credited.

A Delhi taxpayer faced denial of Section 54 exemption after constructing a new house before selling his old property for 53 lakh. ITAT Delhi quashed the reassessment after ruling that the Income Tax Departments Section 148 notice was issued after the permissible limitation period.

The income tax return filing deadline for ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 and ITR-7 is 31 August. Missing this deadline incurs penalties, but options such as belated returns are available until 31 December 2026. Here's who gets more time to file.

Flexi-cap funds can vary sharply in their large-cap exposure despite having the flexibility to invest across market segments. Some of the biggest funds have a strong large-cap tilt, while others take a more diversified approachcreating an important distinction for investors to examine.

Starting construction before selling your old house does not automatically rule out the Section 54 exemption. Find out when the exemption can apply, the three-year completion rule, CGAS requirements, key risks and documents taxpayers should maintain.

SBI has reduced rates on domestic bulk term deposits by up to 25 basis points for select maturities.

Regular and direct mutual fund plans can deliver different outcomes due to expense ratios, taxes and distributor costs. The decision to switch depends on factors such as the breakeven period and capital gains tax.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav transferred 1,750 to over 1.25 crore beneficiaries under the Ladli Behna scheme, including a 250 Raksha Bandhan gift, to promote women's financial independence. He emphasised the importance of womens roles in family and society at a state-level event in Maihar.

State Bank of India has updated service charges for Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts, effective October 1, 2026. 

JioBlackRock Asset Management will launch regular mutual fund plans through distributors, adding a route for investors who prefer support. 

Technology mutual funds rebounded sharply in July, but the rally may not necessarily signal a sustained recovery. With IT allocation rising in mutual fund portfolios, investors should assess valuations, existing exposure and fund strategy before increasing their allocation.

Stock market investors and traders are taxed differently based on the nature of their activities. Both may also have to file different ITR forms. Here are the key rules, classification factors and common filing mistakes to know.

CA Anil Sagayanathan highlights the fragility of high salaries and lifestyle inflation on LinkedIn. Even with 1 crore income, financial stress prevails due to rising expenses and peer pressure. 

Form 146 is a CA-certified document for certain taxable foreign remittances. It helps determine the taxability and TDS applicable to overseas payments above the prescribed threshold. Heres when it is required, who files it and how taxpayers can use it.

With the income tax return filing deadline approaching, creators who earn regularly through social media should ensure that their income and expenses are properly recorded.

While children tend to change interests and, in turn, career paths, the financial challenge of planning ahead remains: how do parents engineer an education fund that is flexible enough to accommodate possible changes in plans?

SEBI has simplified mutual fund registration by moving to a single application while retaining detailed checks on sponsors. Heres what the new framework means for investors evaluating a newly launched AMC and its funds.

High earners often feel financially stretched. Investment adviser Abhijit Kumar suggests a five-step financial audit to track spending and savings. 

An IIM professor explains why trying to pick individual winning stocks is a losing game, and why discipline and diversification are the real keys to long-term wealth.

The emergence of finfluencers has democratised stock market advice but poses risks, with many unregistered content creators giving potentially misleading information. Here's when you can seek legal recourse.

A 46-paise shortfall on a credit-card bill has raised questions over how banks calculate interest and late-payment charges. Heres what RBI rules say about unpaid balances, interest-free periods and late fees.

In business cycle funds, the real work for investors isn't picking the category but picking the manager they trust to deliver on that category.

A Delhi ITAT ruling has come to the aid of a property dealer after it deleted a 54 lakh tax addition, finding that the cash deposited in his bank account belonged to property buyers. 

Selling agricultural land impacts tax obligations, depending on location. Rural land is exempt from capital gains tax, while urban land incurs tax. All FAQs answered here.