The Economic Times

The Reserve Bank of India is introducing stricter loan recovery rules for banks, focusing on borrower protection and transparency. These new directions, set to take effect from July 1, 2026, aim to prevent harassment and ensure fair treatment during the recovery process. Banks must implement mandatory recovery policies and adhere to a code of conduct for recovery agents.

The Supreme Court strongly criticized the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, RERA. Judges suggested abolishing the institution, stating it only helps defaulting builders. The court allowed Himachal Pradesh to shift its RERA office to Dharamshala. This decision is subject to a pending High Court case. The court noted people are disappointed with RERA's performance.

Unique stocks are equities held by only one mutual fund house and not others. In January, about 240 such stocks were identified above Rs 100 crore market value. Top exclusive holdings included Marathon Nextgen Realty, Premier Explosives, Network People Services Technologies and Vintage Coffee & Beverages.

After a strong run-up over the past year, gold and silver have seen frequent and sharp price fluctuations in recent months.

Debt mutual funds saw a sharp turnaround in January, posting net inflows after two months of heavy outflows. Experts attribute the reversal to post-year-end cash redeployment, improved comfort around yields and liquidity, and a continued investor preference for liquid, low-volatility fixed-income categories over duration-led strategies.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed claims regarding Goods and Services Tax in Lok Sabha. She clarified that milk has always been exempt from GST. Educational supplies like books and notebooks also have zero GST. Healthcare services have maintained a 0% GST rate since 2017. Funeral services were never subject to GST.

Salaried employees stand to gain significantly from proposed tax rule changes. Under draft Income Tax Rules, 2026, the annual tax exemption for meal vouchers like Pluxee or Sodexo could rise to Rs 1,05,600. This is a substantial increase from the current Rs 26,400 limit. The new rules propose a Rs 200 per meal cap, potentially boosting employee savings.

With gold prices rising, consumers are increasingly exchanging old jewellery for hallmarked pieces to ensure purity and better resale value. Mandatory hallmarking in India, regulated by BIS, certifies gold's karat and fineness, reducing fraud risk and enabling fair valuation. Buyers should verify BIS logo, HUID, and purity marks for authenticity.

JPMorgan also views Vodafone Ideas target of a threefold increase in cash EBITDA over three years as aggressive, as it assumes market share gains against Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, which the brokerage finds uncertain.

PPFAS Mutual Fund has raised caution over the sharp growth in the margin trading facility book, which has jumped from Rs 24,920 crore in FY23 to Rs 1.16 lakh crore by December 2025. The fund house highlights rising liquidity and credit risks, especially among smaller brokers dependent on costlier funding sources.

PFRDA has launched NPS Swasthya as a pilot scheme to help subscribers build a dedicated medical fund alongside retirement savings. You can contribute any amount, withdraw up to 25% for medical needs, and even exit fully for critical treatments. This innovative scheme bridges pension planning and healthcare expenses.

JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund, an offering by JioBlackRock Mutual Fund, added Hindustan Zinc and nine other stocks in its portfolio as the new entrant in January and made a complete exit from L&T Finance and 16 other stocks in the same period. (Source: ACE MF)

The Reserve Bank of India is implementing stricter regulations against financial institutions for mis-selling products. New draft directions, effective July 1, 2026, aim to prevent mis-selling by banning dark patterns and forced bundling. These rules mandate clear information, customer consent, and establish mechanisms for feedback and compensation for affected customers.

Mutual fund investors with long-term goals can continue their existing SIPs, even if overweight in mid and small caps, as compounding works in their favor. For shorter horizons, rebalancing to stable funds is advised. New Sebi rules enhance cost transparency, separating fund management fees from other charges, potentially leading to modest expense reductions over time.

Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2018-19 Series-VI investors can now redeem their holdings prematurely from February 12, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has fixed the redemption price at Rs 15,615 per unit, based on a three-day average gold price. This offers a substantial return of nearly 377% on the initial investment, excluding interest.

A will fails if its witnesses become hostile. This means the deceased's property will be distributed according to Hindu succession laws, not the will's wishes. For Hindu females, this follows specific rules under the Hindu Succession Act. The law prioritizes statutory inheritance when a will cannot be proven. This ensures a clear path for property devolution.

Multi-asset allocation mutual funds saw record inflows of Rs 10,485 crore in January, driven by investor preference for diversification and stability offered by gold and silver allocations. Experts suggest these funds are suitable for long-term portfolios, balancing growth with risk management, and can be a core holding for investors.

According to Sebi norms, focused equity mutual fund schemes must invest in a portfolio of maximum 30 stocks. These schemes have no other restrictions when it comes to investing- like flexi cap schemes they can invest in any market capitalisations and sectors

Recent findings indicate that health insurance providers are grappling with a surge in policyholder dissatisfaction. Star Health tops the list with more than 12,000 complaints recorded in FY24-25. CARE Health and Niva Bupa aren't far behind, also receiving significant backlash. Keep reading to discover which health insurers have garnered the most complaints from policyholders, and check if your health insurer is among them.

New draft income tax rules suggest changes to house rent allowance and child hostel allowance benefits. Cities like Bengaluru and Pune may now qualify for higher HRA exemptions. The child hostel allowance limit could see a substantial increase. These proposed changes are open for public feedback.

Twelve Nifty500 stocks closed above their 200-day moving averages on 11 February 2026, according to StockEdge.com data. The move is widely tracked by traders as a sign of strengthening momentum and potential trend reversal, with stocks above the 200 DMA generally viewed as being in a sustained uptrend.

Budget 2026 reshapes taxation of unexplained income. Self-reporting undisclosed income now attracts a 30% tax rate. This is a significant reduction from the previous 60% rate. Income detected by tax authorities faces a 200% penalty. This creates a compliance-first architecture. It rewards early disclosure with predictable costs. Concealment becomes financially punitive. This functions like a permanent disclosure scheme.

Bharat Bandh bank holiday today? Banks like State Bank of India, UCO Bank and Bank of Baroda have informed BSE about the strike notification and possible disruptions in their services on February 12, 2026.

Markets traded lacklustre, ending almost unchanged after a recent surge, with analysts expecting further consolidation but a positive overall tone. Several companies like HUL, HAL, and Bharti Airtel were in focus due to Q3 results and news developments, including LG India's profit decline and Lenskart's profit surge.

Several mutual fund new fund offers, including FoFs, index funds, ETFs, sectoral and low duration schemes, are currently open for subscription. Asset managers are expanding product offerings across themes such as metals, defence, consumption, healthcare and services to attract investors.

Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund turned Rs 10,000 investment to Rs 19,745 as of end-December 2025, nearly doubling investor capital over the decade and crossed monthly AUM of Rs 15,000 crore in the same period.

Groww Mutual Fund today announced the launch of two new passive investment schemes the Groww BSE Hospitals ETF and the Groww BSE Hospitals ETF FOF offering investors exposure to Indias hospital sector through the BSE Hospitals Index.

Through the ONDC Network, participating buyer apps can offer mutual fund products directly to investors via their existing platforms. The framework aims to streamline product discovery and access, allowing investors to engage with mutual fund offerings through applications they already usewithout the need to download or manage multiple apps.

Is there a bank holiday tomorrow due to Bharat Bandh? Major banks like State Bank of India, UCO Bank, and Bank of Baroda have alerted customers about possible service disruptions.

Old Bridge Mutual Fund has launched the Old Bridge Flexi Cap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing across large, mid and small caps. Managed by Kenneth Andrade, the fund follows a bottom-up strategy and dynamically allocates assets across market segments.

ICICI Prudential Business Cycle Fund has completed five years since launch, turning a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into about Rs 9.74 lakh as of January 31, 2026, delivering an 18.47% return over the period. In comparison, the schemes benchmark generated a return of 13.11%, according to the fund house.

HDFC Mutual Fund has launched the HDFC Nifty India Consumption Index Fund, offering exposure to companies benefiting from Indias long-term consumption growth. The fund tracks the Nifty India Consumption Index, focusing on domestically driven sectors, and carries thematic concentration risks.

The New India Assurance Company is revamping its strategy to tap into the underinsured MSME sector by addressing accessibility rather than cost. CMD Girija Subramanian reveals plans for simplified products, parametric insurance in allied sectors, and a focus on speedy claims to drive growth.

Gold prices offer mixed signals today, February 11, 2026. MCX spot prices remain steady, while IBJA retail rates have seen a minor decrease. Leading jewellers like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Joyalukkas have updated their 22k gold prices.

The mutual fund industrys Assets Under Management (AUM) stood at Rs 80.23 lakh crore as of December 2025, reflecting steady momentum in investor participation and increased preference for market-linked investment avenues.

The government has officially updated the status of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The commission will make recommendations on pay, allowances, and pensions for central government employees. Its report is expected within 18 months of its constitution. The fiscal impact will be assessed after recommendations are made and accepted.

Passive funds recorded their highest ever monthly inflows of Rs 39,955 crore in January, pushing AUM to a record Rs 15.41 lakh crore, led by gold ETF inflows of Rs 24,040 crore. Equity funds extended their inflow streak, while debt funds saw strong overnight fund allocations amid volatility.

The mutual fund SIP stoppage ratio declined to 74.83% in January, compared with 85.30% in December and 109.15% in January 2025, indicating that more SIPs were registered than those discontinued or whose tenures ended. The monthly SIP contribution remained steady at Rs 30,002 crore in January.

Helios Flexi Cap Fund exited Ola Electric, LG Electronics, and other companies in January. The fund also increased its stake in 20 stocks, including Kotak Mahindra Bank and Adani Ports. Exposure in 44 stocks remained unchanged. The fund's AUM stood at Rs 5,939.87 crore. Performance shows a gain in the last year.

Sovereign Gold Bonds.: The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for specific Sovereign Gold Bonds. Investors can redeem these bonds from February 11, 2026. The redemption value is based on the average gold price over three preceding working days.