The Economic Times

Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund has removed the Rs 5 lakh daily cap on lump sum investments and resumed fresh SIP/STP registrations in its Baroda BNP Paribas Aqua Fund of Fund from May 20. The move comes as overseas investment headroom improves, though subscriptions will remain subject to regulatory overseas investment limits.

Tata AIA Life Insurance has launched the Tata AIA Dividend Leaders Index Pension Fund to help investors build long-term retirement wealth through Indias leading dividend-paying companies. The NFO is open until May 27, with units priced at Rs 10. The passively managed fund tracks the BSE 500 Dividend Leaders 50 Index and invests in 50 consistent dividend-paying firms, combining market-linked growth with life insurance protection for disciplined retirement planning.

Gold prices saw an upward trend today, May 20, 2026, at major jewellery retailers like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers. In contrast, rates at the India Bullion and Jewellers Association experienced a decline. Consumers can check the latest rates for 22k gold and silver across different brands and IBJA.

Twelve equity mutual funds delivered over 10% returns in the past year, led by TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund with 19.24%. Midcap schemes from ICICI Prudential, HSBC and Mirae Asset also featured among the top performers. Overall, 284 schemes were analysed, with returns ranging from 11.51% to 9.86%.

The Wealth Company Mutual Fund, backed by Pantomath Group, has launched its 10th fund, The Wealth Company Large & Mid Cap Fund. This open-ended equity scheme, open from May 21 to June 4, aims for long-term capital appreciation by investing in both established large-cap companies and growth-oriented mid-caps, employing a unique research framework.

Combining a Rs 5 lakh lump sum with a Rs 10,000 monthly step-up SIP can help achieve a Rs 2 crore retirement corpus in 20 years. Experts advise consistent investing, even during market downturns, and increasing SIP amounts with income growth to combat inflation and maximize returns.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch a WhatsApp service for PF updates, allowing members to interact with the organization by sending a 'Hello' message.

Top-performing mutual funds delivered strong five-year SIP returns, led by gold, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, and smallcap categories, though investors should prioritize risk appetite, goals, and investment horizon over past performance alone.

Employees Provident Fund Organisation subscribers will soon withdraw their provident fund corpus directly through Unified Payment Interface. The government has completed testing of this new facility.

A 53-year-old investor aims for a Rs 5 crore retirement corpus in seven years without a pension. Experts suggest increasing monthly SIPs to Rs 1.2 lakh with annual 24% step-ups and shifting to an 80:20 equity-debt allocation. A bucket-based SWP strategy is recommended for post-retirement income, potentially generating Rs 1.67-2.5 lakh monthly.

A man successfully saved his two shops from demolition by the municipality. The shops were slated for removal to widen a road. The Andhra Pradesh High Court intervened, halting the demolition. The court ruled that the municipality must follow natural justice principles. This includes providing a hearing and considering the owner's registered sale deed before any action is taken.

UAE private companies must now pay employee salaries on the first of each month, effective June 1, 2026, as mandated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Failure to comply will result in penalties, including potential blacklisting and travel bans, with no grace period allowed for late payments.

Many policyholders believe health insurance claims require a 24-hour hospital stay. However, modern policies cover numerous treatments completed within 24 hours, known as day care procedures. These include surgeries like cataract removal and treatments such as chemotherapy. Policyholders must verify their policy details, including covered procedures and exclusions, to ensure eligibility for these claims.

Fund managers hold cash in equity schemes for various reasons, including market overvaluation, difficulty finding quality stocks, and to meet daily redemption requests. While cash offers a downside buffer, high levels can lead to underperformance if markets rally, potentially causing investor outflows.

Senior citizens in Gurugram and Faridabad now have enhanced security for their bank accounts. HDFC Bank has introduced a double OTP system. This initiative ensures money transfers only occur after verification from both the account holder and a trusted contact. This voluntary facility aims to protect individuals over 60 from cybercrimes and financial losses.

A letter circulating on social media falsely claims the minimum Employees Pension Scheme 95 pension has increased to Rs 7,500 monthly. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has officially stated this notification is fake. The current minimum pension provided by the government stands at Rs 1,000 per month for eligible subscribers.

The Indian government has officially denied circulating rumors about plans to issue gold bonds to temples or to monetize temple gold holdings. These claims, which emerged after a call to postpone gold purchases and an import duty hike, are completely false and misleading. The Finance Ministry clarified that no such proposals have been approved.

Homemakers earning under Rs 2 lakh from fixed deposits and mutual funds may not need to file ITR legally, but voluntary nil return filing helps maintain records and claim TDS refunds.

Deleting UPI apps doesn't deactivate associated IDs, leaving financial and privacy risks. Old, forgotten UPI IDs linked to recycled mobile numbers can be exploited by fraudsters. Users must proactively unlink accounts, cancel mandates, and deactivate IDs to ensure digital financial hygiene.

Central government employees' pension demands were discussed at the NC-JCM meeting. Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan assured that pension increment every five years and family pension reduction issues will go to the 8th Pay Commission. Physically disabled dependents will have income certificate requirements examined. Old Pension Scheme for certain employees recruited before December 22, 2003, is being considered.

Gold and silver prices saw an increase today, May 19, 2026. Major jewellery brands like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas reported higher rates for 22k gold.

Women are significantly boosting India's mutual fund landscape, managing Rs 11.3 lakh crore in assets and contributing Rs 3 lakh crore in new investments during FY26. Their participation grew 13%, outpacing men's 11% growth. This surge highlights a shift towards disciplined, goal-oriented investing, with a rising number of women embracing diversified and long-term wealth creation strategies.

Building a mutual fund portfolio needs careful planning. Experts highlight that too many funds lead to overlap and high risk, especially in smallcap and midcap categories. Investors are advised to consolidate holdings, increase largecap exposure, and reduce thematic investments. A balanced approach with fewer, well-chosen funds ensures better management and stability.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: If an income is tax-exempt in India, is it also exempt in the US for an NRI? For instance, interest on NRE accounts, FCNR deposits, and PPF is tax-free in Indiadoes it need to be reported in the US, and will it be taxed there, including PPF maturity proceeds?

HSBC Midcap Fund delivered exceptional returns, transforming a Rs 10,000 monthly investment into Rs 2.33 crore over two decades. The fund also showed strong three-year trailing returns, ranking second in its category. Experts highlight the fund manager's strategy of focused stock selection in quality mid-sized companies across growth sectors. This approach has consistently benefited from India's economic expansion.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2020-21 Series-II, fixed at Rs 15,904 per unit. Investors can redeem this tranche from May 19, 2026, after the fifth year. This offers an absolute simple return of over 250% on the initial investment.

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has launched two new strategies under its Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) segment: iSIF Active Asset Allocator Long-Short Fund and iSIF Equity Long-Short Fund. The NFOs are open for subscription till June 2. The strategies aim to offer adaptive portfolio construction through long-short positioning, dynamic asset allocation and derivatives-based risk management.

With a Rs 1.5 crore retirement corpus earning 6%, withdrawing Rs 1 lakh monthly can last about 22 years, leaving little balance. Slightly higher returns allow marginally higher withdrawals but nearly exhaust the corpus. Experts caution that returns from the corpus arent guaranteed and suggest a safer 35% withdrawal rate to sustain funds longer. A balanced mix of debt and hybrid funds, with focus on stability over high returns, is key to avoiding premature depletion.

Indian students studying in the USA on an F1 visa need specific authorization to work. This authorization comes from an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) linked to Optional Practical Training (OPT). A confirmed job offer alone is not enough. Students must complete their studies and obtain the EAD before starting any employment.

Indian families with assets in the USA and UK need robust succession plans. A single Indian Will may not suffice for overseas properties. Experts advise considering jurisdiction-specific documents and trusts. This ensures smooth wealth transfer and avoids disputes. Proactive planning is crucial for protecting heirs and managing foreign tax implications.

West Bengal state government employees will see salary and pension increases with the 7th Pay Commission approval. A new Annapurna Bhandar scheme offers financial aid to women, linked to Lakshmir Bhandar.

HDFC Bank has updated its Regalia Gold Credit Card lounge access policy, introducing a spend-based eligibility for domestic airport lounges starting July 1, 2026. Cardholders must now spend at least Rs 60,000 in the preceding quarter to qualify for three complimentary visits. International lounge access via Priority Pass remains unchanged with six annual visits.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund held major allocations in banking, telecom and financial stocks during April 2026, with portfolio adjustments in MCX, L&T and BSE reflecting active investment and rebalancing strategies.

Private landlords in the UAE can now access tenant credit scores. This new system requires tenant consent through the UAE PASS digital identity platform. The Etihad Credit Bureau facilitates this secure, consent-based data sharing. This initiative aims to increase transparency in the real estate market. The service was announced at GITEX 2025 and launched in April 2026.

Seven mutual funds reduced stakes in 19 smallcap stocks during April, trimming exposure across sectors to actively manage portfolios, rebalance holdings, and improve returns amid changing market conditions and valuations.

The Unique Identification Authority of India has extended the free Aadhaar document update service on the myAadhaar portal. Aadhaar holders can now update their identity and address proof documents without any charge until June 14, 2027. This facility is exclusively available online. The authority encourages citizens to update their details to ensure accuracy in the Aadhaar database.

India-focused offshore funds saw mixed trends as Franklin FTSE India ETFs attracted strong inflows, while the top 10 funds combined assets declined 22% in March 2026 amid broader market weakness.