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REITs are often mistaken for fixed-income products due to their regular payouts, but they carry equity-like risks. Their returns depend on rental income, occupancy and property cycles, making them a diversification tool rather than a substitute for debt investments.

The Indian tax law does not provide any special exemption or relief for losses or gains arising solely due to depreciation of the Indian rupee against the foreign currency during the investment period.

UPI users may remain unaffected even if Merchant Discount Rate is introduced, according to Bernstein. The brokerage expects large merchants to bear a 30-40 bps fee, while small merchants and low-value transactions may remain exempt. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says it is too early to comment.

Interest rates on fixed deposits differ significantly among banks. Investors should consider factors such as bank reputation and financial goals when choosing deposit options with varying maturities.

The Income Tax Department has released the Excel utility for ITR-6 for AY 2026-27. The utility is now available on the e-Filing portal. The form is applicable to companies that are not claiming exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act.

Cash optimisation apps allow you to park unused money in liquid mutual funds or fixed deposits, delivering higher yields than standard savings accounts.

The EPFO is expected to launch E-PRAAPTI by the end of August to help members recover money lying in old or inactive PF accounts. The Aadhaar-based portal aims to simplify account tracing, reduce paperwork, enable UAN linking, and make claims faster through a digital process.

The RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% while raising its FY27 growth forecast and trimming its inflation estimate. Here's why salaried employees shouldn't expect lower EMIs, cheaper loans or sharply lower FD rates just yet.

The Mumbai ITAT ruled that a genuine property purchase from a spouse cannot be denied Section 54F tax exemption merely because it results in tax savings. The tribunal found no evidence of tax avoidance and allowed a taxpayer's 6.92 crore exemption claim after the tax department challenged it.

The RBI held the policy repo rate at 5.25%, maintaining a cautious stance amid uncertainties. Governor Malhotra noted the uncertain growth outlook due to various factors. Here's what retail investors should do in such times.

While business and professional filers of ITR-3 and ITR-4 get more time, even those who missed the 31 July deadline get a chance to file a belated ITR, though with a penalty.

Early loan repayment reduces interest costs but may not immediately improve credit scores. Experts explain how timely payments, credit utilisation, debt management and responsible borrowing habits play a bigger role in building a strong credit profile.

South Korea's AI-driven stock market boom turned into a sharp rout within weeks. Here's what Indian investors can learn about leverage, passive investing, diversification and FOMO.

Indian households are among the world's most disciplined savers. But an increasing share of those savings is flowing into unproductive assets, limiting both long-term wealth creation and capital formation.

A sharp reversal has reshaped the mutual fund leaderboard in 2026, with many of last year's best-performing categories slipping. Here's what the latest data shows and why experts say investors should avoid chasing past returns.

F&O traders need to understand turnover calculation before filing ITR. Check how futures and options turnover is computed, why it affects tax audit rules, ITR-3 filing, books of accounts, and compliance requirements before the August 31 deadline.

NPS returns can vary significantly depending on the pension fund manager and the asset class you choose. Here's how Tata, ICICI Prudential, HDFC, UTI and other pension funds performed over one, three and five years.

8th Pay Commission: Stakeholder consultations will be held in Jaipur on 31 August and 1 September. Central government and UT employee associations in Rajasthan can apply by 18 August using their Memo ID to participate.

Income tax refunds occur when paid taxes exceed actual liabilities after deductions and they are processed after ITR e-verification.  Here's when to expect it and common reasons for delay.

Taxpayers who missed the July 31 ITR deadline can still file a belated return until December 31, 2026. Here's the filing process, applicable late fees, and the tax benefits you may lose by filing late.

The EPF officers body has asked the Labour Ministry to hire more experts for better service delivery, citing delays in claim settlements. With inadequate technical support and staffing, they stress the need for timely intervention. 

Gold and silver prices today, 5 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.

The Centre is considering raising the EPF wage ceiling from 15,000 to 25,000, subject to Cabinet approval. If notified, the move could bring more employees under EPF and increase future EPS pension payouts.

LICs equity investment strategy explained as the Finance Ministry reveals how the insurer managed policyholders funds in listed companies over five years, including risk checks, regulatory oversight, portfolio review and investment decisions based on business performance and future prospects.

Taxpayers can file a revised return if they have made mistakes in their initial submission before the 31 July deadline. Know the due date and whether revising errors can lead to a penalty. 

The CBDT's technology-driven NUDGE campaign prompted 1.25 crore taxpayers to revise or update their ITRs over FY25 and FY26. The voluntary compliance drive also helped the Income Tax Department collect 9,494 crore in additional taxes.

EPFO's e-Office application will be unavailable from 6 pm to 9.30 pm today due to a scheduled system upgrade. Members may experience temporary service delays while key UMANG services remain available. Here's what EPF subscribers and employers need to know.

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. 

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.

Volatile markets have led retail investors to reconsider their investment options amid inflation. Fixed deposits and debt funds carry lower risk, but the choice depends on individual tax slabs, financial timelines, and risk tolerance. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

These platforms move idle cash into liquid funds to beat traditional savings account rates and offer brand perks, but come with hidden costs, taxes, and exit loads.

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 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.

ANAROCK study shows home prices and rental yields have risen together across India's top housing markets since 2019. Noida, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Hyderabad emerge as the biggest winners for residential property investors.

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.