The Economic Times

Within these five years, January 2025 marked the sectors steepest decline, as the Nifty Realty index plunged 12.45%. Other years were also weak, with declines of 4.69% in 2023, 0.81% in 2022, and 2.61% in 2021. The lone outlier was 2024, when the index posted gains of over 9%.

Indias top 10 asset management companies collectively managed over Rs 1.13 lakh crore in silver ETF assets in January 2026. Nippon India Mutual Fund led the pack, followed by ICICI Prudential and HDFC Mutual Fund, according to NSE data.

Silver has surged nearly 50% this month, dramatically outshining gold. Investors are now questioning if gold will catch up. Both metals have seen significant gains, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of interest rate cuts. Experts suggest gold offers stability, while silver's sharp rise comes with higher volatility.

Indian stock markets opened lower today. The Sensex and Nifty saw a slight dip. Investors are now focusing on the upcoming federal budget. This comes after a recent rally driven by trade agreement optimism. Market participants are shifting their attention to domestic policy announcements expected this weekend.

According to the Sebi mandate, short duration funds can invest in debt instruments which have maturity between one and three years. That means these schemes are meant for short-term investments of up to three years or more. They are somewhat in the middle when it comes to interest rate risk. They are riskier than liquid, ultra short term, and low duration funds.

Maharashtra observes three days of mourning after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's tragic plane crash death. State government offices are closed. Schools, however, will open as scheduled. There may be disruptions and bank closures at local levels due to the last rites of Pawar being performed in Baramati today. Nationalised banks follow the RBI holiday calendar and no holiday has been announced for such banks in Maharashtra today.

Markets showed high volatility but gained over half a percent as investor optimism returned, with the Nifty index nearing a crucial 25,350 level. Several companies, including ITC, Vedanta, and Tata Motors, are in focus due to Q3 results and other corporate developments.

Gold and oil prices surged as geopolitical tensions escalated and the Federal Reserve maintained its stance on interest rates. Gold broke above $5,550, while oil advanced on concerns over Iran. US equity futures dipped amid mixed tech earnings, with investors awaiting further clarity on interest rate paths.

February 2026 brings several bank holidays across India. Sikkim observes Losar on February 18. Maharashtra celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti on February 19. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh mark their Statehood Day on February 20. Digital banking services remain available for customer convenience during these closures.

eClerx Services approved a 1:1 bonus share issue alongside robust Q3FY26 results. Net profit rose 40% year-on-year, while revenue grew strongly, supported by steady execution, higher USD revenues, and resilient operating performance despite marginal margin compression.

The Economic Times presents The Psychology of Money Masterclass with Morgan Housel, a live online experience designed to transform how people think about money, risk, and decision-making. Focused on behaviour rather than formulas, the masterclass combines global insights with Indian investing perspectives to help participants build a healthier, long-term relationship with money.

Among the Top 10 AMCs managing Gold and Silver ETFs, Nippon India Mutual Fund leads with the highest combined AUM, ahead of peers like ICICI Prudential MF (Rs 48,165.7 crore), HDFC MF (Rs 34,075.7 crore), and SBI MF (Rs 33,103.6 crore).

New Aadhaar App: The government has launched a new Aadhaar app offering secure and convenient access to UID services. Users can now update mobile numbers and addresses, verify Aadhaar cards instantly, and selectively share identity attributes, all without physical visits or paperwork.

Aggressive investors suggest prioritizing high growth mutual funds like small cap, midcap, flexi cap, and sectoral schemes for SIPs in January to potentially maximize long term returns while accepting higher volatility.

SBI Research proposes aligning fixed deposit interest tax with capital gains. It also suggests shortening the lock-in for tax-saving FDs to three years, matching ELSS mutual funds. This aims to offer tax Section 80C tax benefits also to those investors who invest in 3-year FDs. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget 2026 on Sunday (February 1, 2026), many investors expect changes related to FD interest.

Medical inflation in India is soaring, making health insurance unaffordable and leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses. Taxpayers hope Budget 2026 will bring regulation to hospital pricing and insurance premiums. Experts call for government intervention to control rising healthcare costs and ensure better patient protection.

Parag Parikh Large Cap Funds New Fund Offer, which opened on January 19 and closes on Friday, January 30, aims to give investors cost efficient exposure to large cap stocks with smart execution and broad diversification ahead of reopening for continuous subscriptions in February 2026.

Punjab National Bank urges Sovereign Gold Bond investors to verify their accounts at branches, especially if interest payments are missed or bonds are maturing. The bank clarifies it's not liable for payout delays due to incorrect or closed account numbers. Investors are advised to update details before closing operative accounts to ensure timely redemption and interest credits.

The budget sits between the bumper budget presented in February 2025 and the upcoming Income Tax Act 2025 which will be implemented from April 1, 2026. This really makes the upcoming budget as a bridge to move from present to the future with enhanced focus on trust, ease of compliance and use of technology.

A financial planner proposes a two-stage strategy for those nearing 50 to build a Rs 1 crore corpus by 60 and then withdraw a Rs 60,000 monthly income with a 5% annual step-up for 25 years. This ambitious plan involves a 20% annual SIP step-up and relies on high investment returns, but one should also analyse the feasibility of these assumptions.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I have been employed with a company for a long time, and have accumulated approximately Rs 24 lakh in superannuation and Rs 9 lakh in gratuity. If I resign and take up a new job, will the superannuation and gratuity be taxed on transfer/withdrawal?

NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme: The PFRDA has launched the NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme, a voluntary contributory scheme offering financial support for medical expenses. Eligible Indian citizens can contribute any amount, with those over 40 allowed to transfer up to 30% from their common account.

Budget 2026 should address discrepancies in the Capital Gain Account Scheme (CGAS) by basing deposits on actual sale consideration, not stamp duty value. This change is crucial as current rules can lead to shortfalls when stamp duty exceeds sale price, TDS is deducted, or payments are in installments, potentially causing litigation.

Eighteen equity mutual funds delivered over 1.85 times returns on lumpsum investments over three years, led by mid and small cap schemes. The analysis highlights top performers while reiterating that returns vary based on risk profile, market conditions and investment horizon.

A Delhi family has successfully reclaimed 6.8 kg of gold and Rs 40 lakh cash. The Delhi High Court permitted the release after the family paid Rs 2.5 crore as advance tax. The seized items were taken during an income tax search. The family cited an upcoming wedding as the reason for needing the gold.

A Delhi family has successfully reclaimed 6.8 kg of gold and Rs 40 lakh cash. The Delhi High Court permitted the release after the family paid Rs 2.5 crore as advance tax. The seized items were taken during an income tax search. The family cited an upcoming wedding as the reason for needing the gold.

Signed by the President on 21 August 2025, the New Income Tax Act focusses on cleaning up the tax code by removing obsolete provisions, consolidating existing ones and reflecting overall the measures taken to modernize the tax architecture in alignment with global provisions as well as domestic aspirations.

Gold and silver prices are soaring, prompting investors to consider ETFs. Experts advise prioritizing gold over silver for diversification, with a recommended commodity allocation of 8-10%. Multi-asset funds are also suggested for balanced rebalancing across asset classes. Investors should approach new investments cautiously, favoring SIPs over lump sums.

According to Sebi norms, medium to long term funds have a mandate to invest in debt and money market instruments in such a way that the Macaulay's duration of the portfolio is four to seven years. Since these schemes invest in long-term debt instruments, they are considered risky.

The Delhi High Court has stayed a property sale linked to a tenant, questioning an unregistered will that excluded the landlord's only son. The court found the will suspicious, citing only one attesting witness and a false claim of no children. This has led to a freeze on property transfers until the ownership dispute is resolved through trial.

Income-plus arbitrage fund of funds offer a stable, tax-efficient fixed-income option for investors seeking to avoid equity and recent precious metal volatility. These schemes blend debt and arbitrage strategies, providing stability from debt and low-risk, tax-advantaged returns from arbitrage opportunities.

The Department of Public Enterprises has clarified gratuity rules for Central Public Sector Enterprise employees. A Rs 20 lakh gratuity payment is now mandatory for all CPSEs from March 29, 2018, regardless of their financial capacity. This change follows an amendment to the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Earlier, affordability was a condition for certain employees.

Indian markets ended higher as buying in financials, IT and metals offset weakness in auto and FMCG stocks. Adani Enterprises, Axis Bank, BPCL and Apex Frozen Foods gained, while Asian Paints, auto stocks and Sula Vineyards declined.

Indian households are returning to gold and silver, not out of tradition, but as part of a more structured approach to financial stability. As income becomes less predictable, these metals are finding a new role within diversified portfolios, alongside market-linked assets and passive income strategies that together support long-term financial freedom.