The Economic Times

ICICI Bank Q2 Results: Private lender ICICI Bank reported a net profit of Rs 14,843 crore in the second quarter of financial year 2027, marking 20.1% year-on-year increase from Rs 12,359 crore posted in the same period last year.

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana supports first-time employees enrolled with EPFO through financial aid of up to Rs 15,000. Disbursed in two instalments, the first payment occurs after six months of steady employment, while the second is contingent on completing a financial literacy course.

PL Capital remains cautious after the Niftys eight-week losing streak, warning against expectations of a V-shaped recovery. Despite market uncertainty, the brokerage favours eight small and midcap stocks, including CESC, Amber Enterprises and Healthcare Global, citing potential upside of 13-50%.

Gold rate today: On October 17, 2026, a rise in gold prices marked a significant shift for leading jewellery retailers, including Tanishq and Malabar Gold.

The Indian government has approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme with significant financial outlay. Changes will be made to pension schemes, including eligibility criteria and assistance rates. The eligibility for disability pension will now depend on 40% disability against the previous 80%. This initiative aims to benefit 3.20 crore individuals across all states and Union Territories.

Rule 114 helps investors estimate how long mutual fund investments may take to triple based on expected annual returns. Dividing 114 by the return rate gives the approximate timeframe, supporting long-term financial planning. However, the formula provides only an estimate, as mutual fund returns fluctuate and are never guaranteed.

Mrs. Khanwani, a Dubai resident, faced tax notices for unexplained money linked to her FCNR deposits. The ITAT Jaipur ruled in her favor, highlighting the funds' clear origin from bank records. The Income Tax Department could not dispute the source of funds provided by her husband, Mr. Chand.

These top five midcap stocks witnessed the highest net selling by mutual funds in September. Here is a detailed breakup, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Uttar Pradesh and Kerala will observe public holidays on October 19 and 20, 2026, for Mahanavami and Vijaya Dashmi. Banks will remain closed for three days in Uttar Pradesh and four days in Kerala. Customers should complete any important banking tasks before the holidays begin on October 18. Digital banking services will still be available during these holidays for customer convenience.

Sovereign Gold Bond: The Reserve Bank of India has announced the redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 Series VII, allowing investors to redeem on October 19, 2026. Priced at Rs 14,614 per unit, this reflects an impressive total return of approximately 192% since its launch.

Bank holiday today: Today, banks will function as usual across most parts of India, with Tripura being the exception due to the Maha Saptami festivities. The Reserve Bank of India has outlined specific holidays for various October festivals, particularly affecting operations on the second and fourth Saturdays.

Leading mutual fund houses such as Tata Mutual Fund and HDFC Mutual Fund have suspended fresh investments in their gold fund-of-funds. The halt comes as a response to macroeconomic factors affecting gold imports and the value of the rupee. Existing investments in these funds remain unaffected, allowing ongoing systematic plans to continue. New investors now have alternative options for gold exposure, including direct investments in Gold ETFs.

EPFO has introduced a new WhatsApp channel to keep subscribers informed about its schemes and services, attracting around two lakh users so far. The channel provides insights into the Employees Provident Fund, Employees Pension Scheme, and Employees Deposit Linked Insurance.

A Rs 10,000 monthly mutual fund SIP could build a Rs 2 crore corpus in 25 years and six months at 12% annual returns. Increasing contributions annually by 5% or 10% could shorten the timeline to 22 years and nine months or 20 years and one month, respectively.

Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund held an AUM of Rs 1.70 lakh crore across 93 funds as of September 30, 2026. According to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services, One 97 Communications, Eternal, Kalyan Jewellers, MCX, and Sterlite Technologies featured among the fund house's top 10 equity portfolio holdings.

Sunil Singhania-founded Abakkus Flexi Cap Fund increased holdings in Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Groww and 32 other stocks in September. The fund also added Zydus Lifesciences, exited Cyient DLM and trimmed stakes in two stocks.

For non-resident Indians, leveraging the basic exemption limit can help mitigate normal slab rate taxes on capital gains. However, it's important to note that this exemption does not apply to capital gains taxed at special rates, such as short-term capital gains derived from listed bonds. This stipulation is clearly defined in the Income Tax law, and tax treaties may additionally offer advantages depending on the NRI's country of residence.

Five smallcap stocks saw the highest net buying by mutual funds in September, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Cupid led the list, with a 337.7% month-on-month rise in value change, followed by Bharat Coking, Vedanta Power, Godawari Power and Natco Pharma.

ICICI Bank is expected to report 15.8-18% year-on-year growth in net interest income and 15-21% growth in profit after tax in Q2FY27, according to brokerage estimates. Investors will track net interest margins, loan and deposit growth, operating profitability and asset quality, with margin pressure and provisioning trends remaining key monitorables.

Gold prices at various leading jewellery outlets showed no fluctuation on October 16, 2026, staying steady compared to the previous day. Nevertheless, indicative prices for gold and silver jewellery surged according to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association.

Seventeen mutual fund houses have temporarily restricted fresh investments in specified gold exchange-traded fund-of-funds (FoFs), including lumpsum contributions, new SIPs and switch-ins. Existing SIPs and redemptions generally remain permitted, subject to scheme-specific conditions.

Jio Platforms is set to launch its IPO bidding on October 21, offering 27 crore shares without any offer for sale. The price band is set between 1,065 and 1,119 per share, targeting a total of 30,213 crore. Following recent IPOs like Hyundai and LIC, which struggled below their original prices, market sentiment is now emphasizing profitability. Analysts will closely monitor Jio's listing amid this competitive landscape.

From building wealth in the AI age and identifying investment opportunities to protecting assets, planning for retirement and transferring wealth across generations, Day 1 of ET Wealth Expo 2026 will bring together leading financial experts to explore the three pillars of long-term wealth management: Build, Protect and Legacy.

A man from Sikar faced a penalty of Rs 3.99 lakh for under-reporting his income. The Income Tax Department initiated penalty proceedings after he filed an income tax return. However, the ITAT Jaipur found technical mistakes in the penalty notice issued by the Assessing Officer. They noted the absence of specified violation under Section 270A(9) in the penalty proceedings. Consequently, the penalty was quashed, providing full relief to the taxpayer.

Jio is set to enter a competitive market with its IPO, which marks Reliance's first offering since 2006. The shift from physical share certificates to demat accounts has greatly streamlined investor experiences over the years. Investors will benefit from reforms that include blocked amounts and faster listing times. The proposed IPO will cater to a considerably larger base of individual investors than previous offerings.

6-month emergency fund with Rs 50,000 salary: While calculating the amount, you should count everything that still needs to be paid even when salary stops. So, where should you put this money and how much should you invest every month to hit the target faster? Moreover, an individual who is single and has no dependents may not need the same amount of emergency fund as someone with a family.

Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund suspended subscriptions in two debt schemes holding Yes Bank AT1 bonds after the Supreme Court overturned their Rs 8,415 crore write-off. The fund house is reviewing the judgment to determine its next course of action.

Akash Ambani said Jio can raise mobile tariffs but prefers growing revenue through digital services, broadband and enterprise solutions. Ahead of its Rs 30,213 crore IPO, Jio aims to expand margins and connect 100 million homes.

Cemindia Projects raised Rs 1,400 crore through a qualified institutional placement priced at Rs 1,108 per share, attracting 2.3 times demand over the base issue. Leading mutual funds participated as the company secured strong credit ratings and shares rallied.

Wife got Rs 50 lakh permanent alimony and divorce even though she couldnt prove husbands affair with maid; Know how she won case in Patna HC

The Tatkal National Pension Scheme (NPS) is now available through the BHIM Payments App for eligible bank customers. This feature simplifies account creation without the need for a physical bank visit.