The Economic Times

Nine equity mutual funds multiplied investors SIP investments by more than 1.6 times over the last five years, led by small-cap and mid-cap schemes. Invesco India Midcap Fund topped the list with a 1.71x wealth multiplier and an XIRR of 21.66%.

Choosing the right Income Tax Return form for AY 2026-27 depends on income sources. ITR-1 now allows reporting income from two house properties. Salary, house property, and other sources can be reported in ITR-2. Business or professional income generally requires ITR-3 or ITR-4. Complete income profile determines the final ITR form selection.

The government has clarified no LTCG tax scrapping for foreign investors. Only investments in Government Securities now receive tax exemptions. This measure aims to attract foreign portfolio investors to the G-Secs market.

Inconsistency in witness testimony led to a 1957 executed registered sale deed being ordered for cancellation and a long battle for buyer to secure his rights in the 15 bigha land; SC restores buyer's rights in this land; Know why

The ESIC wage ceiling is periodically increased by the government. The last revision raised the limit to twenty-one thousand rupees monthly. The Code on Social Security, 2020, now encompasses more establishments. Gig and unorganised workers are now covered under the ESIC scheme. Attendance restrictions for seasonal workers' treatment remain unchanged.

Withdrawing money from your mutual fund SIP can significantly delay your financial goals by hampering the power of compounding. Early withdrawals cause maximum damage to your long-term wealth creation. Here is how pulling out funds at different stages impacts your timeline to build a target corpus of Rs 1 crore.

Gold prices saw a slight increase across major jewelry brands today. Tanishq's 22K gold jewelry is priced at Rs 13,275 per gram. Other brands like Malabar, Kalyan, and Joyalukkas offer 22K gold at Rs 13,230. IBJA rates show 24K gold at Rs 14,240 and 22K at Rs 13,898. Silver prices also saw a slight adjustment from yesterday's rates.

The 8th Pay Commission will consult stakeholders in Chandigarh. Interested parties must submit appointment requests by August 25, 2026. Previous consultations were scheduled in New Delhi, Chennai, and Puducherry. The commission seeks input on pay, pension, and work conditions. Further meetings are planned for other states and union territories.

ETMutualFunds shortlisted five top midcap mutual funds based on rolling returns, consistency, downside risk, outperformance and asset size, highlighting options suitable for investors with high risk tolerance and long-term horizons.

International funds offered excellent returns over the past year, outperforming domestic options. However, fresh investments are currently restricted due to regulatory limits. Experts suggest alternatives like LRS platforms and GIFT City funds for global exposure. Diversified global ETFs tracking broad indices are recommended for new investors. Investors should maintain international allocation for diversification and risk-adjusted returns.

Conservative investors often avoid medium to long duration debt funds due to their inherent risks. These funds invest in longer-term instruments, making them sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. Even small rate increases can cause significant volatility and potential investor losses. Investors with a higher risk tolerance and long horizon can consider these schemes. Competent advisors can guide investors aware of the associated extra risks.

Bank holidays: Bank branches will observe numerous closures throughout August 2026 due to holidays. Independence Day on August 15 will cause nationwide bank shutdowns. Several state-specific festivals like Ker Puja and Tendong Lho Rum Faat will also affect branch operations.

ITR filing : Taxpayers rush to file income tax returns before the July 31 deadline. Common errors include not e-verifying and mismatched personal details. Reconciling income with Form 16 and AIS is crucial for successful submission.

An ET analysis of 546 equity mutual funds reveals that Pharma & Healthcare funds delivered the highest 5-year SIP returns at 18.2%. While sectoral funds led performance, flexicap and largecap funds offered steady returns, making them ideal core portfolio options for long-term investors.

8th Pay Commission salary calculator: Employee groups are advocating for a higher annual salary increment in the upcoming 8th Pay Commission. They suggest increasing the current three percent rate to at least five percent annually. This change aims to substantially boost the basic pay of central government employees. Calculations show a six percent increment could add millions over ten years. Such adjustments are expected to improve employee financial well-being significantly.

Crypto staking allows holders to support blockchain networks and earn rewards. Validators are chosen based on committed tokens, reducing reliance on mining. Users can delegate tokens or use exchange services for easier participation. Staking rewards vary due to on-chain conditions and network economics. Understanding risks like volatility and redemption periods is crucial before staking.

Gratuity, pension forfeited but only leave encashment paid after nine years delay without interest; retired employee wins case in Delhi High Court as court directs employer to pay 6% interest on leave encashment. Know how this employee's family won case in Delhi High Court.

Failing to file your income tax return by July 31, 2026, after TDS deduction has consequences. You will face interest charges and a late filing fee for delayed submissions. Not filing an ITR prevents claiming refunds and carrying forward losses. Virtual digital asset income is taxed regardless of the exemption limit. The tax department may issue notices for non-compliance and missed filings.

Five smallcap mutual funds delivered annualized returns of 20.6%-26% over three years, led by Bandhan Small Cap Fund, while investors should prioritize risk appetite, goals, and investment horizon over past performance.

Around 52 equity mutual funds have delivered absolute returns of over 100% in the past five years, according to an ETMutualFunds analysis. Mid-cap funds dominated the top performers, led by Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund with a 169.84% return. The analysis covered 212 regular-plan, growth-option equity funds, excluding sectoral and thematic schemes, with all generating double-digit returns.

Gold rates today: Gold prices remained steady across major Indian jewellery retailers today. Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds maintained their previous day's rates. Joyalukkas saw a slight decrease in its 22K gold price. Kalyan Jewellers has not yet updated its current gold rates. The IBJA provided benchmark prices for various gold purities and silver.

Long Term Capital Gain: The Finance Ministry has denied contemplating the scrapping of LTCG tax on equities for domestic investors. There is no current proposal under consideration to remove this tax for retail investors.

Building a 10 crore corpus over 20 years requires more than regular SIP investments. Financial planners suggest reviewing portfolios periodically, increasing SIP contributions with income growth, and maintaining the right asset allocation to maximise compounding benefits.

Looking for credit cards with free airport lounge access? Check these 5 credit cards that still offer complimentary domestic or international lounge access without any minimum spending criteria. These cards also have a low joining fee and one of them is free for lifetime. Check other things like eligibility criteria, rewards, benefits etc.

NRIs selling under-construction property must use the allotment date for capital gains. This date determines long-term versus short-term capital gains tax treatment. The Bombay High Court and other rulings support the allotment date as the acquisition point. This principle applies even when possession or registration occurs much later. Proper documentation of the allotment letter is crucial for NRIs.

Can a housing society stop access to common facilities by residents of smaller flats on the ground of smaller maintenance? Know what the law says.

Gilt funds are recommended for aggressive debt investors expecting RBI rate cuts. These funds offer potential double-digit returns when interest rates begin to fall. Gilt funds invest in government securities, carrying no credit risk but high interest rate sensitivity. Investors should possess a long-term horizon and understand interest rate cycles before investing. Nippon India Gilt Fund and Bandhan Gilt Fund are among the recommended schemes.

HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Bank of Baroda collected the most penalties for low balances. Public sector banks collected these charges from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. Private sector banks collected penalties from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26. Most public sector banks have now withdrawn these charges for savings accounts. Zero-balance accounts like Jan Dhan Yojana accounts are exempt from such penalties.

Home loan insurance is designed to pay off outstanding loans if the borrower passes away, while term insurance provides a one-time payment to meet the family's needs. After securing a home loan, it's vital to reassess the adequacy of your term insurance to ensure it sufficiently covers all liabilities, particularly for those with substantial loans and multiple financial responsibilities.

New EPF withdrawal rules offer greater flexibility for salaried employees. Experts caution against withdrawing retirement savings prematurely due to lost compounding. Transferring EPF balances is generally better than withdrawing when changing jobs. Withdrawing EPF can impact future Employees' Pension Scheme benefits significantly. Consider genuine needs like permanent relocation or financial hardship before withdrawing.

Sebi has proposed lowering the minimum investment for mutual fund-only portfolio management services. The regulator suggests reducing this threshold from Rs 50 lakh down to Rs 25 lakh. This move aims to make these services more accessible to a wider investor base. Additionally, Sebi is simplifying other requirements for these portfolio managers. These proposed changes are expected to impact the investment landscape significantly.

Five conservative hybrid mutual funds delivered attractive Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) returns over a three-year period, according to an ET Wealth report. Parag Parikh Conservative Hybrid Fund led the category among listed schemes with a 10.9% return, followed by HSBC, ICICI Prudential, DSP, and SBI schemes.

ITR filing: Taxpayers have four days remaining to file their Income Tax Return by the July 31, 2026 deadline. It is important to match Form 16 with AIS and Form 26AS for accurate tax deductions. Gather all income and deduction documents, and choose the correct tax regime for potential savings.

Top-performing equity mutual funds delivered over 20% five-year returns, led by infrastructure, midcap, and smallcap funds, with varying AUM, ratings, and expense ratios highlighting strong performance.

Many taxpayers who purchase or construct a residential house to claim exemption under Sections 54 or 54F are unaware that selling the house within the prescribed lock-in period can reverse the earlier tax benefit. This article explains how such a sale affects the computation of capital gains, highlights the different tax implications under the two provisions, and outlines the precautions taxpayers should take while filing their Income Tax Return (ITR) for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27

Fund managers typically maintain cash to meet redemption requests and deploy capital when attractive investment opportunities arise.

Husband refused to take wife back home after she suffered an accident making her wheelchair bound; Hospital files case; HC orders him to take care and orders police to escort her. Know what the high court said.

Indian residents cannot gift US shares purchased through the LRS route to their NRI children. The liberalised remittance scheme requires sale proceeds to be repatriated within 180 days. US stocks held under LRS may face US estate tax upon the investor's death. Indian residents can reduce this exposure by investing through non-US domiciled vehicles. Lifetime gifting and succession planning can also mitigate these tax complications.

AU Small Finance Bank has raised interest rates on FCNR(B) and NRE fixed deposits. These new rates are effective from July 27, 2026, for specific tenures. The government's decision to bear hedging costs on FCNR deposits influenced this change. AU SFB also offers zero forex margin and bank charges on remittances. These benefits provide NRIs with a comprehensive banking solution for wealth growth.

Central government employees retired between 2006 and 2008 will not receive MACP benefits. The Modified Assured Career Progression scheme began on September 1, 2008. This means the scheme was not active during their service period. Employee bodies are now demanding more MACP promotions for Group C and B staff. They seek five financial upgradations instead of the current three.

The government has notified the EPS pension 2026 scheme, superseding older plans. Existing pension fund benefits are protected under the new scheme. A special drive is underway to dispose of pending labor cases expeditiously. The new scheme maintains the pension calculation formula and contribution rates. Membership eligibility is defined for those joining after June 29, 2026.

Stopping SIP contributions permanently can significantly delay wealth creation goals as investors lose the benefit of regular investments and long-term compounding. ET Wealth analysis shows how discontinuing a Rs 20,000 monthly SIP can delay a Rs 1 crore corpus target by several years.