The Economic Times

New UPI-enabled credit cards offer convenience and rewards. Kiwi, HDFC Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank, and Axis Bank provide options. Users can make payments via UPI apps and earn cashback, reward points, and other benefits. These cards combine UPI's ease with credit card advantages.

Eight equity mutual funds have experienced significant losses, with six of them shedding over 10% in the past six months. Among the biggest losers were Tata Small Cap Fund at -17.71% and two from Motilal Oswal, losing over 16%. Other funds from Invesco, UTI, Mirae Asset, and Samco also saw substantial declines.

Employee bodies are urging the 8th Pay Commission to reduce the compression ratio, which signifies the disparity between the lowest and highest basic pay. The Federation of National Postal Organisations proposes a 1:8 ratio, citing historical widening of the gap in recent commissions and advocating for a uniform multiplication factor and need-based minimum wage.

This state mandates tenant verification for property owners under new rules, effective from December 2024. Owners must submit tenant documents to the police within five days; failure to do so can result in up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000. Police will maintain inspection records to enhance public safety and law and order.

Capitalmind Flexi Cap Fund reduced its exposure to HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel in February while increasing stakes in several stocks including BPCL and Federal Bank. The fund also added seven new companies to its portfolio and exited six stocks as part of its portfolio reshuffle during the month.

YES Bank is adjusting its credit card fee rules. Starting April 1, 2026, higher spending limits will apply before fees are charged on utility, transportation, and digital wallet transactions. These changes aim to benefit cardholders by increasing the threshold for various spending categories. The bank is modifying these thresholds across different card types, offering more flexibility to customers.

Flight disruptions due to the Iran-Israel conflict have led to discounted gold prices in Dubai, presenting potential buying opportunities for Indians. However, experts caution that customs duties, GST, and other charges can significantly erode profit margins, making large-scale arbitrage unlikely.

If your monthly rent crosses Rs 50,000, income tax rules require tenants to deduct tax at source (TDS) before paying the landlord. Many renters are unaware that this responsibility lies with them, not the landlord. Understanding this requirement helps tenants avoid penalties and stay tax compliant.

Subscribers of PPF, SSY, and NPS schemes must complete all financial year-end compliances and investments by March 31. To avoid account inactivation and maintain tax benefits, ensure minimum deposits are made. For PPF, it's Rs 500 annually; for SSY, Rs 250; and for NPS, Rs 1,000.

Zerodha Mutual Fund's instant withdrawal facility is transforming how Indians manage money. A large number of small transactions show investors are using it for daily cash needs. This feature allows quick access to funds, even on weekends. Zerodha's Overnight Fund now offers this 24x7 service via WhatsApp, making liquidity management simple and fast for many.

Samir Arora-backed Helios Flexi Cap Fund added Tata Motors to its portfolio in February while exiting REC, KPIT Technologies and Oswal Pumps. The fund also increased exposure to several stocks including Lemon Tree Hotels, HDFC Bank and SBI. Its portfolio size fell to 62 stocks while assets under management rose to Rs 6,211 crore.

Gold and silver ETFs saw significant drops on Monday. Precious metal prices opened lower on the MCX. A stronger U.S. dollar pressured bullion prices. Rising energy prices fueled inflation concerns, reducing interest rate cut expectations. These factors overshadowed safe-haven demand amid Middle East conflict. Investors are advised to use dips for accumulation.

Mid cap schemes invest in mid cap stocks or in stocks of medium-sized companies. As per Sebi norms, the mid cap mutual funds are mandated to invest in companies that are between 101 and 250 in the market capitalisation. These companies can be leaders of tomorrow. Thats what makes them great bets. If these companies live up to the promise, the market will reward the investors handsomely.

SEBI has introduced a new rule allowing equity mutual funds to invest up to 35% in gold and silver. This move aims to enhance portfolio flexibility and diversification, enabling fund managers to manage risk during volatile markets. Experts believe this will provide a tactical hedge, though excessive exposure could dilute the equity nature of funds.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court ruled that a bank can recover loan dues from a pensioner's account once the pension is credited. The court upheld a bank's deduction of Rs 4.64 lakh from a retired officer's pension account after he defaulted as a guarantor for a home loan, stating pension loses statutory immunity upon crediting.

Severance pay received after job termination is taxable. Individuals must pay advance tax by March 15 to avoid penalties. This payment is treated as salary income and taxed at normal slab rates. Ensure your employer deducts the correct tax. If not, you are liable to pay advance tax. Failure to comply can lead to interest charges.

Indian equities extended losses on Friday amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, keeping investor risk appetite subdued. The India VIX surged, indicating increased market fear. Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers, while domestic institutional investors bought shares. The rupee depreciated against the US dollar due to rising crude oil prices and risk aversion.

This study tracks fund manager performance across various schemes and AMCs by creating virtual NAVs. Eligibility requires at least 70 months of management experience in active equity funds over six years, excluding sector/thematic funds. Managers are ranked on multiple metrics, considering consistency and outperformance against Nifty indices.

Indian equity fund managers navigated a challenging market by prioritising risk management and resilience. Many adopted conservative strategies, increased cash holdings, and favoured value or contrarian approaches. This approach helped protect investor capital during downturns, with ten top managers identified for their superior risk-adjusted performance, emphasising a safety-first philosophy.

Indian investors are increasingly turning to global ETFs to access a broad range of commodities beyond gold and silver, driven by a broad rally in metals. This trend offers diversification and access to industrial and strategic metals, though it involves forex costs and inherent market volatility.

Indian IT firms faced a slowdown in 2025 due to uncertain global tech spending and geopolitical tensions, impacting revenue growth and margins. The sector's challenges intensified in 2026 with AI-driven structural transformation, leading to significant underperformance in the Nifty IT index.

Oil prices are experiencing their biggest weekly surge since 2022 due to the war in West Asia. Disruptions are impacting producers, importers, and shippers. The US is considering various options to address rising oil and gasoline prices. Asian economies are showing signs of strain, with China suspending fuel exports.

In extraordinary situations, tax residency should ideally reflect genuine economic connections rather than accidental travel delays. Until the law evolves, travellers would be well advised not to plan their visits on wafer-thin margins like 181 or 58 days, because even a delay of two or three days can unexpectedly change tax residency.

Thousands of Indians in the UAE are stranded due to regional conflict and disrupted air travel. While airlines offer rescheduling, travel insurance typically excludes war-related losses, leaving travellers to cover extended stays and evacuations. Insurers are exploring policy adjustments for conflict-linked disruptions.

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 93rd part of this series, Riju Mehta explains how various types of trusts differ in their purpose and functioning.

Welcome to TrendMap, your guide to the performance of different investment segments. In this edition, we present a 10-year performance tracker of various factor-based investment strategies. The annual returns are ranked for 6 key NSE Factor indices, with a broad-based index, Nifty 500, thrown in for comparison. This map shows that no single-factor strategy consistently outperforms, making a strong case for diversification. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Crude oil prices have surged to near one-year highs as escalating conflict in West Asia threatens key supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. Rising geopolitical risks, refinery disruptions and tanker delays are pushing prices higher, raising inflation concerns and creating economic vulnerabilities for major Asian importers, including India, China, Japan and South Korea.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: My 78-year-old mother never had any health insurance. Can she now get one? Till what age can one get health insurance?

Equity mutual funds had a weak week between March 2 and March 7, with most schemes posting losses amid global market declines. International funds were among the worst performers. DSP World Mining Overseas Equity Omni FoF topped the losers list, while several emerging market and global funds also recorded notable declines.

Five international equity mutual funds delivered returns of over 50% in the past year. Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund topped the chart with a 101.16% return, followed by mining, metals, Brazil and clean energy-focused funds. Other funds delivered returns ranging from negative 21.65% to positive 46.41%.

Women are increasingly taking charge of their finances. This Women's Day 2026, learn how to build the right mutual fund portfolio at every life stage. Experts advise aligning investments with career, family, and retirement goals. Staying disciplined during market ups and downs is crucial. Avoid common mistakes like delaying investments and neglecting insurance.