The Economic Times

Five debt mutual funds delivered higher one-year returns than conventional fixed deposits, led by Bank of India Credit Risk Fund with a 17.68% return. Aditya Birla Sun Life Credit Risk Fund, DSP Credit Risk Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Plan and Bandhan Gilt Fund also featured among the top performers.

ITR deadline: By the end of August 31, 2026, over 7.8 crore individuals completed their income tax return submissions. Those who did not file on time have until December 31, 2026, to submit a belated ITR, incurring possible late fees. Notably, failing to meet this deadline also prevents taxpayers from opting out of the new tax regime, with business income earners unable to revert to the old regime post-deadline.

8th Pay Commission news: The Department of Personnel and Training is advocating for revisions to the Terms of Reference for the 8th Pay Commission. Employee associations are urging the inclusion of pension revisions for those who retired before January 1, 2026. Historically, previous pay commissionsnamely the 7th, 6th, 5th, and 4thhave had their Terms of Reference modified by the government to address various concerns, including extended coverage and scope.

HSBC Mutual Fund's RedHex Hybrid Long-Short Fund has impressively reached a whopping Rs 1,000 crore in assets under management within just two months. This unique investment strategy has drawn in nearly 1,950 individual investor folios, providing an innovative blend of fixed income, equity arbitrage, REITs, and INVITs aimed at optimizing risk-adjusted returns. The fund's rapid growth illustrates an increasing interest in diverse mutual fund options.

Today's gold rate: On September 1, 2026, gold prices dipped slightly in major Indian cities, with notable jewelry chains like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas maintaining stable rates for 22k gold. Furthermore, the India Bullion and Jewellers Association released updated pricing for numerous gold purities. Alongside, silver also observed a decrease compared to the previous day's close, reflecting current market trends.

All 219 equity mutual funds delivered positive SIP XIRRs over the last five years, with 165 funds generating double-digit returns. HSBC Midcap Fund topped the list with a 22.70% XIRR, while ITI Small Cap Fund and Bandhan Small Cap Fund followed closely. The analysis highlights how disciplined SIP investing can compound wealth over time.

NRIs have the opportunity to gift money to their Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) without incurring immediate tax obligations. However, it's important to note that any income generated from these gifted amounts will be taxable for the NRI donor. The HUF must diligently keep records of all transactions as this documentation is essential in proving the legitimacy and source of the gift, ensuring NRIs avoid potential tax disputes in the future.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I would like to understand what happens to my rights over inherited agricultural land in India if I acquire foreign citizenship. Will I still be able to inherit my familys agricultural land, and are there any restrictions on holding, transferring, or disposing of such property after becoming a foreign citizen?

Frustrated with repeated water leakage issue in top floor flat homeowner requested building to appoint Dr Fixit and Asian paints to fix it; Karnataka RERA directs builder to permanently fix defects at its own cost. Read the article to know how the homebuyer partly won the case.

Central government employees may receive arrears from January 1, 2026, after the 7th Pay Commission's term ended on December 31, 2025. But the eventual arrears could depend on when the 8th Pay Commission is implemented.

A motor insurance claim was rejected by HDFC General Insurance over driver's license concerns. The West Bengal Consumer Commission found insufficient evidence of deliberate policy violation. The insurer was directed to pay Rs 3.5 lakh with interest and Rs 1 lakh compensation. The commission emphasized that a fake license does not automatically absolve insurers of liability. Policyholders must exercise reasonable care when hiring drivers for their vehicles.

The estimated dearness allowance for central government employees has soared to 64%, driven by the July 2026 AICPI-IW reading of 153.2. This index, compiled monthly by the Labour Bureau from retail price data across India, leads to a biannual revision of DA in January and June. Final details regarding the salary increase will be revealed following the government's official announcement.

Despite large-cap mutual funds showing a decline this year, mid and small-cap funds have proven to be winners. Experts advise investors to rebalance their portfolios by taking profits from the outperformers. Now is the time to reconsider allocations, as large caps provide better valuation and protective measures. Flexi-cap funds are suggested as a strategic option for a broader range of investors.

ETMutualFundslaunched its recommended mutual fund portfolios to invest through SIPs in October 2016. Since then, we have been closely monitoring the schemes in these portfolios and coming up with updates on them regularly.

Wife escaped income tax notice as she proved in ITAT that her husband entirely paid for their joint property which was sold for Rs 14 lakh less price than market value. Read the article to know why the wife won the case in ITAT Kolkata.

ITR filing deadline: Taxpayers with business or profession income must file their returns today. This deadline applies to those using ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms. More than seven crore income tax returns have already been filed. Individuals and HUFs with presumptive business income use ITR-4. Partners of non-audit firms also have this August 31 filing requirement.

Dubai based homebuyers books two flats in Mumbai from Dubai office in Sheikh Zayed Road of Sion, Mumbai based builder; but builder delays possession; homebuyers cancels booking; MahaREAT orders Rs 1.33 crore interest compensation plus full refund. Read the article to know how the homebuyer won the case.

Bank holidays in September 2026: In September 2026, customers in different Indian states should anticipate bank closures for a variety of festivals. It's wise to consult the RBI holiday calendar for effective planning. Timely completion of essential banking tasks is critical, so proactive checks are recommended. Also, scheduled and non-scheduled banks will observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays, helping to prevent any last-minute banking challenges for customers.

8th Pay Commission news: Central government employees receive arrears on basic pay after pay commission implementation delays. Dearness allowance and house rent allowance are not typically paid as arrears. Transport allowance also does not accrue arrears due to its fixed nature. Estimates show significant arrears for Level 4-7 employees at various fitment factors. Actual arrears will be confirmed after the government officially notifies the new rates.

The deadline to submit ITR-3 forms for non tax audit business income is set for August 31, 2026. For those requiring a tax audit, the submission date extends to October 31, 2026. Important updates for AY 2026-27 include new reporting obligations for specific non-residents under Section 44BBD, and taxpayers must disclose political party details to claim deductions under Section 80GGC.

How long will it take to build a Rs 3 crore corpus with a Rs 15,000 monthly SIP? Using a 12% assumed annual return and a Rs 1 lakh lump-sum investment, the target could take around 25 years and 10 months to reach, according to the Value Research calculator.

During an income tax search operation (raid) Rs 16 lakh cash was seized; Man says its family cash; tax officer does not believe him and calls it unexplained cash; he wins case in ITAT Mumbai. Read the article to know how.

Around 19 equity mutual funds delivered over 20% returns on lumpsum investments over the last one year, according to an ETMutualFunds analysis. Small-cap funds dominated the list, with TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund topping the chart with a 33.73% return. Invesco India Smallcap Fund also featured among the top performers, delivering a 20.39% return during the period.

Groww AMC has completed State Street Investment Managements strategic investment after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. State Street now holds a 4.85% voting interest and 23% economic interest in Groww AMC, with the partnership set to strengthen its capabilities across ETFs, indexing, systematic investing and global market access.

Gold rate today: Here is a look at the latest 22k gold rate from leading jewellery brands such as Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Also find the latest 14k, 18k, 20k, 22k and 24k indicative gold prices and the 999-purity silver price from the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) today.

Transformers and Rectifiers shares rallied on Monday after the company secured a large order from MEIL for manufacturing transformers and related work. Valued at Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore, excluding GST, the order is scheduled for execution over 35 months and is expected to strengthen the companys order pipeline.

Gold and silver ETFs fell sharply on Monday, with some funds declining up to 8% as precious metal prices extended their losses. Rising expectations of a US Fed rate hike, profit booking and a stronger dollar weighed on sentiment. Experts advised investors against panic selling and suggested rebalancing or staggered buying.

Starting on October 1, 2026, new charges will be introduced for the National Pension System. All subscribers are required to pay a one-time onboarding fee of Rs 200 to register for PRAN. Additionally, active schemes will incur an annual fee of 0.20% of Assets Under Management (AUM). However, those opting for digital onboarding will benefit from a reduced charge of Rs 100.

In August, multiple international equity mutual funds posted impressive returns surpassing ten percent, with the Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund and DSP World Gold Mining Overseas Equity Omni FoF leading the pack. Analysts attribute these robust performances to fluctuations in overseas markets and currency values. It's essential to remember that a single month's performance may not signify an overarching trend.

Central government pensioners can commute up to 40% of basic pension as a lump sum at retirement. The commuted portion is then deducted from monthly pension and restored after 15 years. Several employee and pensioner organisations want this period reduced to 1012 years.

If you are planning to invest for three to five years, but dont want to take a call on interest rates, you can bet on dynamic bond funds

The Rs 825 crore IPO, priced at Rs 788 per share, comprised a fresh issue of 79 lakh shares worth Rs 620 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 26 lakh shares aggregating Rs 205 crore. Ahead of the public issue, the company had also raised Rs 246.30 crore from anchor investors.

As long as the stock is priced above the 200-day SMA on the daily timeframe, it is generally considered to be in an overall uptrend.

Large banks secured significant dollar deposits, easing short-term borrowing costs for smaller institutions. This influx of funds has boosted banking system liquidity considerably in recent months. However, longer-term borrowing costs are hardening due to hawkish monetary policy signals. Markets anticipate potential interest rate hikes in the near future. This outlook is influencing investor decisions on longer-dated debt instruments.

The Finance Act, 2026, has plugged a significant gap. Earlier, an updated return could not be filed if unaccounted income merely reduced a reported loss and the corrected return remained a loss return. The amendment now permits such loss reduction updated returns retrospectively from 1 March 2026.

Water shortages, elevator breakdowns and rising maintenance billsthe reality of what happens after you move into a mega gated society.

Without maternity cover, pregnancy-related complications arent covered, but disputes can arise over whether the exclusion extends to unrelated ailments.

Sebi's recent mutual fund category renaming has created potential investor confusion. Long Duration Funds are now Long Term Funds, which are debt-based. This change may mislead investors seeking equity for long-term goals. Fund houses must now align scheme names with modified category designations. The regulator aims to standardize names and reduce scheme duplication across the industry.

These target-date funds simplify goal-based investing and defer taxes, though the one-size-fits-all approach may not suit everyone.

Understand F&O taxation, deductible expenses, loss set-off and carry-forward, and audit rules.