The Economic Times

ITC Hotels reported strong second-quarter growth, with revenue rising 26% and net profit increasing 52% year on year, supported by higher room rates, occupancy and demand from business events. The company also expanded its portfolio through new hotel signings, the Welcomhotel Ahmedabad acquisition and a land allotment in Lucknow.

Gold purchasing sees a significant rise during Dhanteras and Diwali, celebrated for their cultural relevance. Investors can explore various avenues like physical gold, ETFs, and digital gold options.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund is set to unveil two new investment opportunities tailored for Indian investors. The JioBlackRock Life Cycle Fund 2056 aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation through strategic and diversified asset allocation. On the other hand, the JioBlackRock Ultra Short Term Fund prioritizes income generation while ensuring liquidity in the short term. Investors can start with a minimum commitment of Rs 500 for both lump-sum and SIP options.

Gold funds with the highest Sharpe ratios offer strong risk-adjusted returns, with UTI Gold ETF FoF leading the list at 1.50. Seven gold funds recorded three-year returns above 30%, according to MF Screener data.

Five leading multicap funds held substantial exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks in September, exceeding the mandatory allocation across market-cap categories.

An ETMutualFunds analysis of 160 equity schemes found that 23 mutual funds delivered over 12% CAGR on lump-sum investments across five, seven and 10-year periods. The funds span seven categories, including small-cap, mid-cap, flexi-cap and ELSS. The analysis considered regular plans with growth options.

Gold rate today: Gold rates showed a slight increase today in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. The rates reflect a rise compared to the previous day with increased demand anticipated during the festive season.

Crude near $116, raw material costs up sharply and margins under pressure. Here is how Motilal Oswal sees 13 chemical stocks heading into Q2FY27 results.

In the latest analysis by ETMutualFunds, the top seven equity mutual funds have recorded an impressive over 30% CAGR since last Diwali. Leading the pack, the Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund delivered an astonishing return of approximately 87.36%. Other noteworthy performers included ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF, alongside HSBC Brazil Fund. However, it's important to note that some ICICI Prudential funds faced significant losses.

Still paying EMIs on a flat that may never be delivered? Here is what homebuyers can do about the loan, the police, RERA and insolvency court.

Mutual fund advisors say banking & PSU debt schemes are relatively safe because these schemes invest only in bonds and papers of banks and public sector companies. Since most of these entities are government-backed, they dont have the credit risk.

Due to various holiday celebrations, bank branchesin some states will not be open today as per the Reserve Bank of India's schedule for October 2026, which includes Laxmi Puja and Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday.

Retailers use a bagful of psychological triggers and pricing tricks to sell more during sales. Heres how you can avoid overspending.

When markets fell, BAFs had an opportunity to increase equity exposure. Many did, while others were more cautious.

Investors must position fixed income portfolio for further rate hikes. But this cycle may look different.

Axis Pension Fund intends to enhance its National Pension System offerings to provide better retirement savings options. The introduction of NPS Swasthya addresses the health insurance needs for older customers effectively. Despite tax benefits, low awareness continues to hinder corporate NPS uptake among employees. Further clarity on Tier-II NPS account taxation and extended tax deductions could encourage broader participation.

Waiting until the last minute in the hope of a sale can be costly. Airlines use dynamic pricing, and cheaper fares may disappear as more seats sell. If your dates are fixed, compare fares as early as possible and book when the price is reasonable for your budget. Set fare alerts to track changes, but dont delay your booking expecting for a drop in prices.

General, or non-life, insurance is expected to play a more integral role in financial planning over the next 25 years, shows an ICICI Lombard report.

This is a global problem. A World Health Organization report found that out-of-pocket expenses for medicines and other medical products push up to 12% of households in European countries into poverty or deepen their financial hardship.

According to data from ILM Research (previously known as Beshak Research), 15 of 31 non-life insurers paid out over 95% of their approved health claims (including cashless hospitalisation claims, where the insured does not have to pay out of pocket) within a month in financial year 2025-26, while the rest were slower.

The Indian institutional framework poses unexpected risks. Not only is insurance costly for seniors, its not available as a standardised social welfare benefit. Unexpected spikes in health cost can throw off a retirees spending patterns well out of balance. Reliance on children and privatisation of senior health care poses a serious risk.

Find out how lifestyle creep undermines wealth creation and how to enjoy a better standard of living without sacrificing your financial goals.

Welcome to TrendMap, your guide to the performance of different investment segments. No single segment always leads. In this edition, we present a 10-year equity performance tracker, ranking annual returns across market-cap segments. Investors risk appetite has turned more selective in 2026 so far. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Cutting through money jargon, one topic at a time. This week, Sanket Dhanorkar explains fixed income investing strategies and which ones suit which investors.

A Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund manager shares his journey across the sell side and buy side, investment philosophy based on growth at a reasonable price, and focus on business quality, management integrity and valuations.

Equity mutual funds lost up to 9.06% last week, with international funds dominating the list of top losers. Six funds declined more than 6.50%, led by Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF FoF, followed by Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500-focused funds.

Investor confidence in small and mid-cap stocks is strong, with rising valuations when compared to large caps. Last month, small and mid-cap funds garnered Rs 16,873 crore, accounting for 44% of the total equity fund inflows. Despite a drop in equity fund assets, overall inflows have seen a 31% uptick, indicating healthy market dynamics.

Gold- Silver rate today (October 24, 2026): Gold prices saw a decline on October 24, 2026, providing a welcome opportunity for jewelry shoppers. Major jewelers like Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds have released their prices across different cities.