The Economic Times

The April 2026 AICPI-IW data has raised expectations of a possible 3% dearness allowance (DA) hike for central government employees, though the final rate will depend on May and June inflation data. The 12-month average AICPI-IW from May 2025 to April 2026 stands at 147.51, translating to an estimated DA of 62.51%, which could be rounded to 63%. If approved, a 3% DA hike would increase the salary of a Level 5 employee by about Rs 876 per month.

Gold prices saw a dip today, Monday, June 1, 2026. This movement occurred amidst geopolitical tensions stemming from US claims of attacks on Iranian military bases. US President Donald Trump indicated Iran's desire for a deal.

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) offers predictable, government-backed monthly income, attracting retirees and conservative investors. While safe, its returns may not beat inflation, and interest is taxable. Experts suggest a balanced approach, combining low-risk options like arbitrage funds for income with equity funds for long-term wealth creation.

UIDAI has launched a new Aadhaar App, replacing the older mAadhaar. This app offers enhanced security with face authentication and biometric lock. Users can manage their digital identity and share Aadhaar data securely. The app allows access to all Aadhaar details on smartphones. Updates like mobile number and address can be done through the app.

Several small-cap mutual funds maintained elevated cash positions in April, reflecting a cautious approach amid market conditions. Bandhan Small Cap Fund held the highest cash allocation at 13.2%, followed closely by Groww Small Cap Fund at 13%. SBI Small Cap Fund, HDFC Small Cap Fund and Quantum Small Cap Fund also maintained sizeable cash reserves, potentially providing flexibility for future investment opportunities.

National Pension System (NPS) fund managers have delivered strong returns over the past three years, with several schemes generating double-digit gains. Tata Pension Management led the pack with a return of 13.56%, closely followed by ICICI Prudential Pension Fund at 13.39%.

Sovereign Gold Bond investors can now plan for premature redemption. Several SGB tranches issued between 2019 and 2021 become eligible for redemption in June 2026. Investors must submit requests within the specified windows through designated channels. Missing these deadlines may lead to rejection. This information is crucial for timely action.

International mutual funds are leading in returns, driven by global markets and currency gains. However, Indian investors face hurdles due to overseas investment limits imposed by the RBI. Experts advise continuing existing SIPs but caution against new investments. Investors are exploring alternative routes like LRS and GIFT City for global diversification as fund houses restrict inflows.

ETMutualFunds offers curated mutual fund portfolios for conservative, moderate, and aggressive investors. These recommendations are designed for SIP investments and cater to various investment amounts. The portfolios are updated regularly based on a robust in-house methodology. Investors can now easily select schemes to meet their long-term financial objectives.

The Ministry of Finance has launched a new portal to help citizens find forgotten money. This initiative, called 'Your Money, Your Right', allows people to trace unclaimed bank deposits, insurance policies, and mutual fund investments. It also helps shareholders claim unpaid dividends and shares.

Salaried employees can claim tax exemption on leave encashment at retirement. While government employees enjoy full exemption, private sector employees have a limit of Rs 25 lakh, subject to specific calculations based on earned leave and salary. This income is reported under 'Income from Salary' in the ITR.

Pension and family pension are taxed differently under the Income-Tax Act, yet many taxpayers continue to confuse the two while filing returns. As AY 2026-27 return filing gathers pace, pensioners must understand the correct tax treatment, deductions, TDS provisions and compliance reliefs available to avoid errors and unnecessary notices.

Homeowners in possession must pay maintenance charges even without an Occupation Certificate or independent water and sewerage facilities. The Himachal Pradesh RERA ruled that if owners are availing basic services they cannot deny payment obligations. However, the builder must ensure charges are reasonable and transparent, and was thus ordered by authority to obtain OC/CC within three months.

The rupees sharp depreciation, down about 10% against the dollar in the past year, has become a key concern during corporate earnings calls. Investors are increasingly questioning companies about hedging and forex risk management. While exporters benefit from higher overseas revenue, importers face rising costs. Companies across sectors are strengthening hedging strategies as speculation grows that the rupee could weaken further.

Borrowers struggling with debt often face harassment from recovery agents through abusive calls, threats, public shaming, and unauthorised visits, despite RBI rules prohibiting such practices. Experts say many borrowers are unaware of their rights and grievance mechanisms. RBI guidelines allow complaints against harassment and provide borrower protections, while debt restructuring and one-time settlements can help resolve repayment difficulties and reduce financial stress.

If youre considering mutual fund portfolio management services (MF-PMS), ask three questions. First, can the manager show post-fee returns for his strategy versus a simple direct fund portfolio over the last 10 years? Second, how often does he rebalance, and whats the post-tax cost? Third, does he have skin in the game on the downside, or is his profit share a one-way bet?

Technical analysis helps investors understand market trends and sentiment through price charts, complementing fundamental analysis, which identifies quality businesses. Key tools include charts, trend analysis, support and resistance levels, moving averages, and trading volumes. While technical indicators can improve entry and exit timing, they work on probabilities, not certainty. Experts advise retail investors to prioritise fundamentals and use technical analysis only as a supporting tool.

Dinesh Balachandran, HeadInvestments, SBI Funds Management, runs some of SBI Mutual Funds (MF) largest schemes, including SBI Contra Fund, SBI Multi Asset Allocation Fund and SBI Balanced Advantage Fund. In this conversation with Sanket Dhanorkar, he shares how he navigated the correction of the last two years, what the fund houses in-house asset allocation model now reveals, and how his investing approach has changed over the years.

Many banks have recently reduced credit card rewards, cashback limits, and perks, prompting cardholders to reassess their spending strategies. Experts advise optimising existing cards rather than cancelling them, diversifying across 23 cards, and using rewards strategically. Linking RuPay credit cards to UPI can boost benefits on everyday transactions. Ultimately, maximising value depends on understanding card features and aligning spending with reward structures.

At least once a year, pull a consolidated account statement to see everything in one go: check for overlap across schemes; flag any fund trailing its benchmark and peers for three years or more; confirm nominations are in place; and ensure at least one other person in your household knows where all your investments are.

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.

Extremely skilled at handling computer software and hardware, hackers are categorised into various types depending on their intent and purpose, and are mostly denoted by different coloured hats. In the 105th part of this series, Riju Mehta lists the various categories of hackers.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced the Retirement Income Scheme (RIS) under NPS, allowing retirees to receive systematic payouts from the 80% withdrawable corpus until age 85 while keeping funds invested. RIS aims to improve income stability, corpus longevity, and inflation-beating returns. However, payouts remain market-linked, tax treatment remains unclear, and the scheme may be complex for some retirees.

Equity mutual funds witnessed a weak May, with the worst-performing schemes losing up to 7%. International and sectoral funds dominated the laggards' list, led by HSBC Brazil Fund. Several consumption, FMCG, energy and PSU-focused schemes also posted negative returns, reflecting pockets of weakness across specific market segments.

Making travel more rewarding and accessible for customers this summer, BOBCARD is offering instant discounts, exclusive deals, and convenient EMI options that help travellers save more while enjoying seamless journeys. For example, BOBCARD users can get up to RS 8000 instant discount on domestic and international flights; claim up to 15% instant discount on flight and hotel bookings on MakeMyTrip.

The 8th Pay Commission is set to hold crucial meetings in Kolkata from July 9-10, 2026, extending the memorandum submission deadline to June 15. This body, tasked with reviewing salaries and pensions for central government employees, will also visit Srinagar and Ladakh in June. Its recommendations, due in 18 months, will consider economic factors and fiscal discipline.

Gold prices continued their downward trend on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with major Indian retailers reporting lower rates. This decline is attributed to softer global bullion prices and reduced safe-haven demand, leading to a modest correction in domestic gold rates across various karats.

Five midcap mutual funds delivered strong long-term performance, generating over 20% annualised returns in the last three years, led by HSBC Midcap Fund, ICICI Prudential Midcap Fund and WhiteOak Capital Mid Cap Fund.

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund introduces MPOWER SIF, a new investment product. This fund aims to provide investors with unique strategies beyond traditional mutual funds. It will utilize derivatives and other tools for varied risk-return outcomes. The fund house plans to offer diverse strategies across equity, hybrid, and fixed income categories.

Around 11 equity mutual funds delivered over 10% returns in May, led by international and technology-focused funds such as Mirae Asset AI ETF FoF, Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund and Edelweiss US Tech Fund.

As retirement nears, investors question diversifying beyond fixed deposits into equities. Experts advise it's never too late to adjust strategies, emphasizing diversification balances capital preservation with inflation-beating growth potential. An ideal asset allocation depends on individual goals and risk tolerance.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) offers a compelling investment avenue for girl children, currently providing an 8.2% annual interest rate. Parents can build significant corpus for their daughter's future by consistently investing up to Rs 1.5 lakh annually, with maturity proceeds and interest being tax-free under EEE status.

Smallcap stocks present a favorable entry point following a market correction, driven by improving fundamentals, healthier balance sheets, and corrected valuations. A disciplined approach focusing on strong businesses with long-term potential is advised, as smallcaps have historically outperformed during recovery phases.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2021-22 Series-II, fixed at Rs 15,672 per unit. Investors can redeem these bonds from June 1, 2026, after five years from the issue date. This premature redemption price offers a significant return of 227% on the initial investment.

Private sector employees and managers facing disciplinary action can protect themselves. Understanding labour laws and principles of natural justice is crucial. The article outlines three key steps to challenge disciplinary committee actions. These steps involve carefully reviewing the charge sheet, crafting a detailed reply, and actively participating in the oral inquiry.

Legal heirs in England and Wales require a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to sell property and manage a deceased person's estate. While not always mandatory for jointly owned assets or to cover immediate funeral expenses, these grants are crucial for accessing bank accounts and proving legal authority.

Many taxpayers mistakenly believe the New Tax Regime offers no deductions. However, salaried employees and pensioners can claim a Rs 75,000 standard deduction. Employer contributions to NPS and interest on home loans for let-out properties are also still permissible, reducing overall tax liability.

Bank holiday today: Banks across India are open today, May 30, 2026, as it is the fifth Saturday of the month. Typically, banks observe holidays only on the second and fourth Saturdays, unless otherwise declared by the RBI. Customers planning branch visits should always verify the operational status with their bank.