The Economic Times

Air India has teamed up with IHG Hotels & Resorts, providing an exciting opportunity for Maharaja Club members to earn points during IHG stays globally. Moreover, IHG One Rewards members can seamlessly convert their points into Maharaja points.

A weak start does not necessarily mean an SIP will deliver poor long-term returns. A 20-year analysis by ShareMarket by PhonePe shows that most five-year SIPs recovered from weak or negative returns in the first two years, with nearly 69% eventually delivering double-digit annualised returns. The data also highlights how extending the investment horizon to seven or 10 years can significantly reduce loss risk and improve return consistency, underscoring the importance of patience and compounding

UTI BSE India Sector Leaders ETF, Zerodha Life Cycle Fund 2031, Monarch Overnight Fund, Motilal Oswal Quality Fund, Navi Nifty REITs & Realty Index Fund, NFO, mutual funds, mutual fund news

Non-Resident Indians are permitted to maintain their National Pension System contributions from abroad. To remain involved, they must utilize NRE or NRO accounts for their investments. NRIs can select either active or auto allocation strategies aligned with their individual risk preferences.

The top eight equity mutual funds delivered over 40% returns on SIP investments in the last one year, with seven smallcap funds and one focused fund making the cut. Bank of India Small Cap Fund topped the list with a 49.99% return, while 247 of the 293 equity funds analysed delivered positive SIP returns during the period.

Eight small-cap funds recorded low performance consistency over the past five years, with scores ranging from 20% to 46%, according to the CRI Mutual Fund Scorecard for the quarter ended June 2026. LIC MF Small Cap Fund had the highest consistency score at 46%, while Kotak Small Cap Fund ranked lowest at 20%.

How about a card that not only offers airport privileges but also earns rewards on every eligible spend and UPI transaction, with zero forex markup on international transactions? This new co-branded credit card offers unlimited domestic lounge access, complimentary dining, among a host of other benefits, and most importantly, it is a lifetime free offering.

Even if you've left your job, your EPF interest keeps accumulating until you turn 58. However, if you dont contribute for three years, your account will be inactive. Its usually a smart move to transfer your EPF balance to your new employer. Additionally, the VISHWAS, 2026 scheme provides businesses with a one-time settlement option to ease long-standing disputes and reduce penalties.

Employer health insurance offers peace of mind, but what happens when you change jobs? This article explores the benefits of securing your own health cover in your 20s, even with existing employer protection. Discover how buying early can lead to lower premiums, faster waiting period completion, and long-term financial advantages, ensuring your health security.

Experiencing a financial setback? Halting NPS contributions may appear to be the only option, but have you considered the long-term consequences for your retirement fund? Delve into the longevity of your existing investments, what the minimum contribution requirements are, and how taking a break can influence your tax advantages.

The top eight AMCs accounted for a significant share of mutual fund SIP flows in the June quarter, with ICICI Prudential AMC leading at 15.33%. HDFC AMC, SBI AMC and Nippon Life India AMC also commanded more than 10% market share each.

Gold prices experienced a notable rise today among prominent Indian jewellery retailers, including Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Joyalukkas, who all reported an increased rate for 22k gold at Rs 14,360 per gram.

Employee deposits Rs 25 lakh cash in bank; tax officer sends notice for unexplained cash u/s 69; Employee wins case in ITAT Bangalore; Know how. This judgement was given by Keshav Dubey, a judicial member and Waseem Ahmed, an accountant member of ITAT Bangalore

Criminals deposited Rs 15 lakh in senior citizens bank a/c; police wants to question him; HC grants anticipatory bail and observes mere deposit of crime money in a/c insufficient to conclude he was knowingly involved in the crime

Bengali Hindulandlord earns Rs 1.89 crore rental income in Delhi, reports it in his HUFsITR; Income Tax dept rejects it on the ground that Dayabhaga Hindu cant have an HUF, landlord wins case in ITAT Delhi

Gamer invested Rs 2.61 crore to play online Rummy, poker games; loses net Rs 28 lakh, stops playing, files ITR reporting Rs 4 lakh income; gets tax notice; he wins case in ITAT Bangalore. Waseem Ahmed, the Accountant Member, and Soundararajan K., the Judicial Member of ITAT Bangalore heard this case.

FAST-DS 2026 raises an important question for taxpayers who have voluntarily disclosed foreign income through a valid ITR-U. Can such income still remain undisclosed under the Black Money Act even though it may no longer qualify as undisclosed foreign income under FAST-DS 2026? This article examines the apparent statutory disconnect and the need for clarification from CBDT.

HSBC Midcap Fund achieved a remarkable 24% return over three years. A Rs 10,000 monthly SIP grew to over Rs 2 crore since inception. The fund manager emphasizes bottom-up stock selection and long-term growth potential. Experts attribute recent outperformance to strong stock picking within key sectors. Investors are advised to focus on long-term strategy and portfolio suitability.

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.

Employee associations are advocating for increased House Rent Allowance (HRA) rates for central government employees, aiming to tackle escalating rental prices in metropolitan areas. These suggestions have been forwarded to the 8th Pay Commission for evaluation. If accepted, Level 1-5 employees could see considerable boosts in their monthly HRA. The definitive report from the 8th Pay Commission will ultimately decide the revised HRA rates.

Income Tax Dept sent tax notice for Rs 9.6 lakh EPF interest which employee never received but erroneously shown in ITR as received; he fights and wins case in ITAT Mumbai. This judgement was delivered by Challa Nagendra Prasad, the Judicial Member, and Makarand Vasant Mahadeokar, the Accountant Member of ITAT Mumbai.

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026 addresses existing dividend tax discrepancies for unitholders by granting unconditional exemptions. Despite this, the established withholding tax regulations for BTs have not been modified, leading to possible inconsistencies. Non-resident investors may need to submit tax returns to retrieve withheld taxes, highlighting the need for a future alignment of withholding practices with the new exemption framework.

Bank holidays in India vary from state to state as they are based on local festivals and occasions. All scheduled and non-scheduled banks will observe public holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays along with Sundays and other regional holidays.

Sebi proposed allowing net fund settlement for mutual fund cash market trades. This move aims to ease temporary liquidity pressures and improve settlement efficiency. Mutual funds can now net purchase and sale funds within the same settlement cycle. Securities settlement will continue on a gross, delivery basis under the new proposal. This change addresses market participant feedback regarding liquidity and operational inefficiencies.

The PFRDA has unveiled ten significant proposals aimed at reforming its Points of Presence rules to enhance the pension service landscape. These updates intend to streamline the onboarding process for subscribers while introducing fresh eligibility standards to include a wider range of entities as Points of Presence. Additionally, an annual fee structure will be implemented, and pension agents will receive a new designation.

Sebi has proposed allowing mutual fund schemes to settle cash-market fund obligations on a net basis for eligible outright transactions. The move could ease temporary liquidity pressures and reduce funding needs, particularly during index rebalancing or large inflows and outflows. Securities will continue to be settled on a gross delivery basis.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Flexi Cap Funds Rs 10,000 monthly SIP grew to Rs 7.25 crore from Rs 33.50 lakh invested since 1998, delivering 17.92% SIP returns and a 20.77% CAGR, outperforming the Nifty 500 TRI with active, flexible portfolio management.

The National Pension System (NPS) and the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) both serve unique purposes for retirement planning. The ultimate financial growth from these investments significantly relies on future market performance, allowing both options to potentially build substantial wealth over time.

ET Alpha Summit 2.0 will bring together leading investment voices to explore how niche alternative assets could shape the next phase of multi-generational wealth creation. The masterclass will examine emerging opportunities, onshoring trends and structural shifts, while weighing return potential against risk, complexity and liquidity.

Five equity mutual funds delivered over 20% annualised SIP returns over the past 10 years. Quant Small Cap led with 24.7%, followed by Nippon India Small Cap at 21.6%, while three midcap funds also crossed the 20% mark.

Jindal Worldwide shares hit a 52-week high and upper circuit after subsidiary Jindal Mobilitric announced plans to expand its retail network to around 100 showrooms by FY28. The EV expansion has driven strong investor interest, with shares gaining 66.28% year-to-date.