The Economic Times News

Gold has often cushioned portfolios across crises, corrections and recoveries, though its performance varies across market cycles and events.

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a maintenance claim from a wife, who misrepresented her employment status as illiterate and unemployed. Upon investigation, the court discovered she had a monthly income of Rs 36,000, rendering her ineligible for maintenance, especially considering her husbands obligations to his elderly parents.

SBI Mutual Fund maintained a diversified equity portfolio in November, with HDFC Bank remaining its largest holding. Select adjustments were seen across banking, telecom and IT stocks, with marginal changes in portfolio weights. Overall positioning reflected a stable allocation strategy with selective buying and selling across key large-cap names.

Odisha government has announced its holiday list for 2026. This includes all public, regional, and national holidays. State employees can also choose one optional holiday.

Important update for taxpayers: Be on the lookout for emails from the Income Tax Department regarding your larger financial dealings. These are friendly reminders, not tax enforcement alerts. They invite you to address any unaccounted income or to adjust your Income Tax Returns if necessary. The department's mission is to increase transparency on reported transactions.

India's EV adoption is growing, making EV car insurance crucial. Unlike conventional policies, EV insurance covers unique components like batteries and charging systems. Premiums and coverage differ due to specialized parts, repair needs, and add-ons like battery protection, reflecting the evolving landscape of electric mobility.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund boosted its holdings in nearly 500 stocks during November. Key additions included Kaynes Technology and IndiGo. The fund also increased its stake in major banks like HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. Conversely, it trimmed its investments in 18 companies, notably Eicher Motors. A new stock, Ahluwalia Contracts, was introduced, while six stocks were completely exited.

C jumped after the company won a 269.69 crore railway infrastructure contract for the AjmerChanderiya Doubling Project under North Western Railway.

Sovereign Gold Bonds: The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption details for Sovereign Gold Bonds issued in June 2020. Investors in SGB 2020-21 Series-III can now redeem their bonds.

Failing to transfer your EPF when you change jobs can cost you tax benefits, pension eligibility, and lakhs through lost compound interest. Here's everything you need to know about EPF transfers and why delaying could hurt your retirement corpus.

Six mutual funds fully exited 12 smallcap stocks in November, according to Nuvama.

Indian consumers now value convenience in premium financial products. The Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card offers integrated travel benefits, simplifying journeys. It provides lounge access, visa assistance, and rewards on travel spends. This card caters to time-conscious travellers seeking functional luxury. Users appreciate its focus on reducing travel friction. Improvements are expected in global transfer partners and service consistency.

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will soon allow subscribers to withdraw funds via ATM and UPI. This new feature is expected before March 2026. Employees can now activate their EPF withdrawal online via mobile,. The platform will soon support PF withdrawals through UPI, allowing instant transfer of funds directly to the registered bank account.

Employees with ESOPs and mutual fund investments face a choice: sell company stock for diversification or hold for potential growth. Experts advise treating ESOPs as risky equity, managing concentration risk, and continuing mutual fund SIPs for long-term wealth creation.

Arbitrage mutual funds look for the price difference that they can exploit between the cash and derivatives markets. They may also invest in debt securities and equities if there are no arbitrage opportunities available in the market.

The Supreme Court has made a pivotal judgment regarding employee entitlements that has caught public attention. An employee of the government, who stepped down after 20 years, is ineligible for family pension benefits. Nonetheless, his family has emerged victorious in securing gratuity payments.

Japan's Nikkei index fell over 1 percent on Tuesday. This decline was driven by losses in chip and AI-related stocks. Investors are adopting a cautious approach. They await key US employment data today and the Bank of Japan's policy decision on Friday. Many stocks on the Nikkei saw drops, with only airlines and agriculture sectors trading higher.

Delhivery is launching its on-demand intracity shipping service, Delhivery Direct, in Mumbai and Hyderabad, offering rapid pickups for small businesses and individuals. This expansion follows a Q2 where the company reported record shipment volumes despite a net loss. The service aims to cater to the growing demand for local logistics across India.

Five Nifty200 stocks showed improving momentum on December 15 as their RSI moved above the 50 mark, indicating early accumulation. The rising RSI reflects strengthening buying interest after consolidation, suggesting a shift towards a positive trend bias and offering traders potential continuation opportunities amid gradually improving market sentiment.

The Rajasthan High Court has made waves with a pivotal decision, asserting that the government is barred from altering lease rent conditions post-property auction. This ruling was prompted by an individual who contested a new annual rent requirement introduced three years after purchasing a 99-year lease.

Markets ended nearly unchanged amid volatility, with rupee weakness and mixed global cues dictating direction. Rotational strength in heavyweight stocks provided support. Key companies like Tata Power, Hyundai India, RBL Bank, SBI, Zydus Life, and Delhivery are in focus due to significant news developments.

Asian markets saw a slight dip as investors paused before crucial US economic data. This data will guide interest rate decisions. The Japanese yen strengthened against the dollar. Investors are cautious ahead of key reports this week. These reports will offer clarity on the economic outlook. The markets anticipate potential Federal Reserve rate cuts next year.

ICICI Prudential AMC's IPO is open for subscription, with Nimesh Shah expecting profitability pressures from growing AUM to be offset by falling unitholder fees. He highlighted operating profit growth as the key valuation metric for asset management businesses, which have historically required minimal capital for expansion.

KSH International raised Rs 213 crore from anchor investors ahead of its IPO, indicating strong institutional interest. The magnet winding wires maker opens its public issue on December 16, backed by global funds and domestic mutual funds.

National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd, NCDEX, has received in-principle approval from Sebi to launch a mutual fund transaction platform. This platform will enable investors to subscribe to and redeem mutual fund units. The exchange aims to expand financial inclusion by targeting rural and semi-urban areas with low-denomination systematic investment plans.

Maharashtra government has announced its public holiday list for 2026, comprising 24 state-wide holidays, a special bank holiday on April 1st for yearly account closing, and an additional holiday for state government and local body offices on November 11th for Bhaubeej.

The Gujarat government has announced its public and optional holiday list for 2026, impacting state government offices, undertakings, and corporations. The list includes a variety of religious and national observances, with provisions for Muslim employees to adjust holidays based on actual observation. Employees can avail up to two optional holidays.

ET Wealth has broken down 6 key factors that help customers assess an insurer's reliability and select the right life insurance company.

In November, mutual funds favoured tech, private banks, autos, NBFCs, telecom, and insurance, while trimming holdings in other sectors, including utilities and consumer durables.

In light of recent modifications to the GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C forms, chartered accountants are advocating for a three-month extension on the submission of Goods and Services Tax annual returns for FY 2024-25. These changes have presented numerous challenges for both taxpayers and professionals, prompting a call for additional time to ensure compliance through proper data verification and system upgrades.

FD interest rate in December: State Bank of India has revised its fixed deposit interest rates, reducing them by 5 basis points for tenures between 2 to less than 3 years. General citizens will now earn 6.40%, while senior citizens will receive 6.90%. These changes place SBI's FD rates in comparison with those offered by HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Canara Bank.

Nine equity mutual funds saw AUM fall by over Rs 350 crore in November, led by SBI Small Cap and ICICI Pru Energy Opportunities, reflecting market volatility, sectoral pressure and reduced inflows across small-cap, sectoral and international funds.

Japanese financial giant MUFG is close to acquiring a significant stake in India's Shriram Finance. The deal could be worth over 500 billion yen. This move signals growing foreign investment in India's booming financial sector. Shriram Finance offers loans for commercial vehicles, tractors, and SMEs. Talks are advanced, with an agreement potentially coming soon.

The star investor tag offered little protection in 2025, with seven out of ten well-known stock pickers seeing portfolio losses amid a sharp smallcap downturn. Data shows heavy exposure to smaller stocks hurt returns, while investors with a largecap bias fared relatively better, highlighting the limits of reputation-driven investing.

Will 8th Pay Commission arrears be paid from Jan 1, 2026? Read on to find out the update on salary and pension hike after minister spoke in Parliament.

JioBlackRock Mutual Funds November portfolio was anchored by large-cap leaders, with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank as top holdings, followed by Reliance Industries, Infosys and IndiGo, underscoring the new fund houses preference for liquid, high-quality stocks.

Franklin India Flexi Cap Fund has delivered exceptional long-term wealth creation, turning a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into over Rs 17 crore in 31 years. The fund has consistently outperformed the Nifty 500 TRI across multiple periods and is nearing Rs 20,000 crore in assets under management.

Around 7 mutual funds trimmed their holdings across 20 small-cap stocks during November, signaling cautious repositioning in the segment.

The Allahabad High Court has delivered a significant verdict, asserting that employers must provide higher wages for employees temporarily elevated to higher positions. This ruling was prompted by the situation of Mr. Pandey, a TGT teacher, who served as acting Head Master for over three years. The court emphasized that neglecting to pay the appropriate salary contradicts public policy principles.

NCDEX has received in-principle approval from SEBI to launch a Mutual Fund (MF) transaction platform, aimed at expanding financial inclusion and paving the way for its equity and equity derivatives segment. The platform will enable micro-SIPs, channel rural savings into regulated avenues, and support existing trading members.

Matrimony.com announces a share buyback worth up to Rs 58.5 crore, planning to repurchase 8,93,129 shares at Rs 655 each via the tender offer route. The buyback, representing nearly 25% of paid-up capital and reserves, aims to return surplus funds to shareholders, with promoters opting out.

There are close to 12 such funds currently available in the market, and some of the top-performing funds have delivered an average CAGR of 15-20% in the last three to five years. This has made these funds a favored choice among parents for securing childrens education and future milestones, reflecting a clear shift from conventional savings to market-linked instruments.

Advance tax payment due date: Today's December 15th advance tax deadline is crucial for those with income beyond salary. Failing to pay or underpaying can result in accumulating interest penalties. The 'Pay as you Earn' scheme requires estimated tax payments in installments throughout the financial year to avoid these consequences.

Mutual funds were net buyers of equities worth Rs 43,400 crore in November, with strong additions in stocks like Eternal, Groww and ICICI Bank. Buying interest spanned large-, mid- and small-cap segments, while stocks such as SBI, Reliance and Kaynes Technology saw notable reductions, according to Nuvama data.