The Economic Times

The Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) offers a stable 8.2% annual interest rate, ideal for retirees seeking predictable income. To earn Rs 20,000 monthly, an investment of approximately Rs 29.30 lakh is required, well within the Rs 30 lakh maximum limit. Interest is paid quarterly, and investments qualify for Section 80C tax benefits under the old tax regime.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has restricted subscriptions exceeding Rs 25 crore in its Gold ETF, becoming the second fund house to do so after HDFC Mutual Fund. This move aims to curb excessive financialization of gold at elevated prices, potentially impacting India's current account deficit and rupee. Investors are advised to consider profit booking and avoid fresh lump-sum allocations.

The 8th Pay Commission is consulting stakeholders before finalising its recommendations, while central government employees await clarity on salary hikes and arrears. If implemented with a 20-month delay, arrears may be payable from January 1, 2026. Depending on the fitment factor, Level 610 employees may receive estimated arrears ranging from Rs 7.08 lakh to Rs 20.87 lakh.

HDFC Mutual Fund has temporarily restricted large lump-sum investments in its Gold ETF and Gold ETF Fund of Fund amid surging gold prices and rising inflows. While SIPs remain unaffected, the move aims to curb excessive exposure to gold, which experts warn could worsen India's import bill and current account deficit.

Bengaluru's real estate focus is shifting to East Bengaluru's Sarjapur-Varthur-Gunjur corridor. This region offers significant investment potential driven by growing tech hubs, infrastructure upgrades, and increasing demand for premium homes. Corridors like Sarjapur, Whitefield, and Varthur are experiencing strong growth. Investors are prioritizing integrated ecosystems with employment sustainability and robust connectivity.

Gold prices saw a dip today, June 5, 2026. This decline followed positive news regarding potential progress between the US and Iran. Market sentiment improved as US President Donald Trump indicated advancements.

Little Pepe (LILPEPE) is rapidly progressing through its presale, raising over $28.1 million with its unique meme-only Layer 2 ecosystem. The project aims to offer fast, low-fee transactions and a dedicated launchpad, positioning itself as an infrastructure play. Analysts are exploring potential price targets of $0.10, $0.25, and even $0.30, contingent on successful exchange listings, ecosystem development, and community adoption.

PGIM India Mutual Fund has revised daily subscription limits for three international funds, effective June 5. Fresh SIPs are capped at Rs 50,000 per day, per investor, per scheme. Existing SIPs and STPs will continue, while new STP registrations will not be accepted after June 4, 2026.

Fixed deposit investors are watching interest rates closely. Several banks have revised their FD rates in June 2026. Savers can lock in attractive returns with some banks offering up to 8% interest to senior citizens on select tenures. Punjab National Bank, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Union Bank of India, and DCB Bank are among those with updated rates.

The Reserve Bank of India maintained the repo rate at 5.25%, reflecting a cautious stance amid global uncertainties and inflation risks. Experts suggest this signals a stable interest-rate environment for debt funds in the near term, while equity investors should focus on earnings growth and global developments.

360 ONE Mutual Fund has launched the DynaSIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund, an open-ended strategy focused on mid and smallcap equities for long-term capital appreciation. The fund allows limited short exposure through derivatives, aiming to generate alpha across market cycles. The NFO is open until June 19.

Around 16 equity mutual funds delivered impressive returns over the last five years. These funds multiplied investors' lumpsum investments by over 2.3 times. Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund led the pack, more than doubling initial investments. Other top performers included Bandhan Small Cap Fund and Nippon India funds. This analysis highlights significant growth opportunities in select equity mutual funds.

The Reserve Bank of India has boosted investment limits for non-resident Indians, Overseas Citizens of India, and other individuals residing abroad. This move allows them to invest more in the Indian stock market without requiring SEBI registration. The enhanced limits offer greater flexibility for foreign investors looking to participate in India's financial markets.

The RBIs decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% has provided relief to home loan borrowers, but rising inflation could trigger future rate hikes and costlier EMIs. Borrowers can reduce interest burden through strategies such as home loan prepayments, paying an extra EMI annually, or refinancing at lower rates. These methods can save lakhs in interest and significantly shorten loan tenure.

Despite the RBI keeping the repo rate unchanged, several factors suggest banks may increase fixed deposit rates soon. Rising inflation, a high deposit-credit ratio, and attractive small savings schemes are pushing banks to offer better returns to attract investors after a period of low FD rates.

An NRI in Hong Kong faced an income tax dispute after withdrawing cash from his NRE account to give to his father. The father used this money to buy an insurance policy in his son's name, leading to an 'unexplained cash credit' notice. ITAT Mumbai ultimately ruled in favor of the NRI, finding his explanation of the funds' origin satisfactory.

Many salaried employees forget to transfer their Employees' Pension Scheme EPS service history when switching jobs. This is crucial even if their Employees' Provident Fund EPF balance is zero. Failing to do so can create gaps in pensionable service. This impacts future pension eligibility and the monthly pension amount.

HDFC Mutual Fund has placed restrictions on buying gold ETFs. This move affects large investors and limits monthly purchases for others. The fund house cites economic conditions and import duty discussions. Investors are encouraged to explore equity and debt funds for national growth. This aims to curb gold inflows and safeguard investors.

PPFAS CIO Rajiv Thakkar said successful investing depends more on patience than frequent trading. He advised avoiding unnecessary selling, profit booking and reactionary decisions, while exiting only for capital needs, mistakes, fraud, structural disruption, extreme valuations or better opportunities.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has launched a new digital platform called StAR NPS. This platform, developed by BSE Technologies, allows Points of Presence to onboard National Pension System subscribers digitally. The process includes electronic data collection and KYC verification. Subscribers can make their first contribution through the platform, leading to PRAN generation.

HDFC Mutual Fund has temporarily restricted lumpsum investments in HDFC Gold ETF and HDFC Gold ETF Fund of Fund. The move limits large subscriptions and switch-ins, while existing scheme terms remain unchanged. The restrictions take effect from June 5 and June 8 until further notice.

BharatPe and YES Bank introduce BharatPe Flex, a new credit-on-UPI service. This facility allows eligible users to make UPI payments even without immediate funds. Customers enjoy up to 45 days of interest-free credit. They can repay in full or opt for flexible EMIs from 3 to 12 months.

Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund has launched the Motilal Oswal BSE Clean Environment Index Fund, an open-ended scheme tracking India's first diversified clean economy index. The NFO, open from June 5 to June 19, offers passive investment in five transformative themes: Renewables, EVs, Water Treatment, Recycling, and Waste Management, aiming for long-term capital appreciation.

Helios Capital founder Samir Arora believes investor pessimism toward India is driven more by a negative halo effect than weakening fundamentals. Speaking at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit, he argued that concerns around AI, valuations and FII selling are overstated, while Indias long-term earnings and growth story remains intact.

Fifteen years ago, Panvel was a barren hillock, but Vijay Wadhwa envisioned it as Mumbai's next urban center, addressing the city's growing pressures. Wadhwa Wise City was conceived to offer a better quality of life, blending opportunity with well-being. Strategic infrastructure projects and coordinated planning are transforming Panvel into a future-ready hub.

National Savings Certificate provides a secure investment option. With a 7.7% interest rate, a Rs 1 lakh investment grows to over Rs 1.44 lakh in five years. Tax deductions are available under Section 80C for those following the old tax regime. NSC accounts can be transferred in specific situations.

Residential property prices in Gurgaon have surged by 18.4% in the past year, reaching Rs 16,249 per square foot. This significant increase is attributed to the upcoming Gurgaon Greater Southern Peripheral Road (GSPR) and associated infrastructure upgrades, positioning the area as a prime real estate hotspot.

He believes a combination of free trade agreements (FTAs), a weakening rupee, and shifting global supply chains could create a massive opportunity for Indian exporters over the coming decade.

Gold prices saw a slight dip on Thursday, June 4, 2026, following news of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. This diplomatic development sparked optimism for broader progress, potentially impacting the Iran dispute. Major jewelers like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Joyalukkas, and Malabar Gold & Diamonds reported marginal decreases in 22k gold prices compared to the previous day.

DSP Mutual Fund CEO Kalpen Parekh advised investors to seek future alpha in out-of-favour areas, not recent winners. He emphasized that market leadership rotates and diversification across asset classes can reduce volatility without sacrificing long-term returns, urging a focus on neglected opportunities.

NPS-Lite subscribers can now withdraw their entire accumulated pension wealth up to Rs 2 lakh as a lump sum, the Department of Posts announced. PFRDA's revised regulations offer enhanced flexibility, allowing this option for smaller corpus amounts. This move aims to simplify withdrawals for eligible subscribers, particularly those not auto-migrating to Atal Pension Yojana.

Eight smallcap mutual funds showed low five-year performance consistency, according to CRISP Scorecard, with varied risk profiles, investment styles, and moderate returns across LIC MF, ICICI Prudential, SBI, and Kotak funds.

ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund has demonstrated a decade of positive calendar year returns, with 2021 and 2023 yielding the highest gains. The fund's consistent performance is attributed to its disciplined multicap structure and strategic sector allocation, as highlighted by fund managers and financial experts.

Mid cap mutual funds have seen a strong rally, leading to investor anxiety about current valuations. While these funds offer potential for high returns, they also carry significant risk due to volatility and corporate governance concerns.

Wealth wisdom of the day: Working for money is not the key to wealth; it should be the other way around, is what Robert Kiyosaki suggests - The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them. But theres something even more important than making more money how much you keep.

The RBI is widely expected to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in the June 5 MPC meeting despite concerns over rising fuel prices, a weaker rupee and geopolitical tensions. Experts believe FD rates are unlikely to rise soon as liquidity conditions, credit growth and deposit growth have stabilised. Most analysts see little chance of an immediate repo rate hike, suggesting FD investors may have to wait longer for any meaningful increase in fixed deposit interest rates.

Big news for UK renters. From May 1, 2026, landlords can no longer use rent review clauses to hike rents. They must now follow a specific legal process. This change aims to prevent unfair rent hikes and backdoor evictions. Tenants can challenge proposed increases if they seem too high.

Salaried employees await Form 16 for Assessment Year 2026-2027. Employers must issue this crucial tax document by June 15, 2026. This form simplifies Income Tax Return filing. Those without Form 16 can still file using salary slips, Form 26AS, and bank statements. The deadline for filing ITR for this period is July 31, 2026.

Investors can explore manufacturing mutual funds for portfolio diversification. The sector shows strong potential driven by domestic demand and global supply chain realignments. Experts suggest a staggered investment approach over six months. The Nifty Manufacturing Index offers distinct exposure compared to the Nifty 50. This theme is poised for growth, supported by policy and evolving global needs.