The Economic Times

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched three open-ended life cycle funds with five-, 10- and 15-year horizons. The schemes use a glide-path strategy, starting with higher equity exposure that gradually shifts towards debt as maturity approaches. The NFOs Life Cycle Fund 2031, 2036 and 2041 are open for subscription and will close on September 9.

Investing in midcap SIPs has proven to be beneficial, boasting an impressive average return of 17.59% over the past decade. This investment category has consistently provided positive returns, showing stability over time. Unlike frequent switching between market caps, which failed to improve long-term gains, gradually increasing SIP contributions can achieve accelerated wealth accumulation. Moreover, the likelihood of securing positive returns rises with lengthening investment durations.

HDFC Bank has announced a boost to fixed deposit rates for senior citizens, increasing them by ten basis points. Federal Bank has also adjusted its interest rates for fixed deposits applicable to all clients. This revision ensures that senior citizens benefit from improved returns. Both banks are now providing competitive rates across select tenures, making savings more rewarding.

Investing a lump sum each year in a Public Provident Fund (PPF) results in a significantly higher corpus than making monthly contributions. Over a span of fifteen years, a yearly investment of Rs 1.2 lakh can grow to yield nearly Rs 99,000 more compared to the monthly deposit method. Plus, PPF provides tax advantages at three different stages, with the current interest rate standing at 7.1 percent per annum.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund is set to unveil its third Specialised Investment Fund strategy, which targets large-cap equities alongside income-focused derivatives. This innovative approach is designed to deliver steady alpha for investors looking to enhance their core portfolios. By integrating large-cap exposure with income-generating elements, this fund aims to meet diverse investment needs. Subscriptions for this fund kick off on September tenth.

Severance pay received under a voluntary retirement scheme is not always taxable for all employees; Know why and what the tax law says

Even a minor upward movement in interest rates could make these schemes extremely risky and volatile. In simple terms, investors might lose money in such a scenario. That explains why advisors do not speak about these schemes often. Needless to say investors should be extremely cautious about these schemes in the current scenario.

Voluntary Provident Fund offers a stable retirement savings avenue for salaried employees. Additional VPF contributions can significantly grow a retirement corpus over time. However, VPF funds are not easily accessible, unlike regular savings accounts. Investors should prioritize emergency funds and clear expensive debt before contributing. VPF serves as a locked-in retirement asset within the broader EPF structure.

As passive investing gains traction, ETFs and index funds are at the forefront of investors' minds. ETFs, which trade on exchanges similarly to stocks, usually have lower fees but can incur trading expenses. On the other hand, index funds appeal to those looking for a more effortless investment approach over the long haul.

8th Pay Commission salary hike: Employee organisations are pushing for larger annual salary increments in the 8th Pay Commission. They argue this approach would lessen dependence on a high fitment factor. Current projections show that a fitment factor can yield a notable immediate pay rise, whereas higher annual increments take years to achieve similar benefits. Consequently, a blend of both strategies may be most advantageous for workers.

On August 26, 2026, banks will remain closed in observance of Onam and Id-E-Milad. Customers planning visits to physical branches are advised to consult the RBI holiday calendar beforehand. While Onam is a vibrant harvest celebration honored in Kerala, Eid-e-Milad marks the significant birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, influencing banking activities across several states.

A Rs 10,000 monthly SIP can build a Rs 1 crore corpus in 20 years at 12% returns, while annual SIP increases can significantly shorten the wealth creation journey.

Taxpayers engaged in business activities must submit either ITR-3 or ITR-4 by the deadline of August 31, 2026. While ITR-4 simplifies the process through presumptive taxation, ITR-3 demands a more detailed presentation of accounts.

The 8th Pay Commission is set to convene in Bengaluru, to hold crucial discussions regarding salaries, pensions, and working conditions with a variety of stakeholders. Additional consultations will be organized in cities like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Puducherry during August and September 2026.

Gold and silver prices saw minor changes on August 25, 2026. Tanishq, Malabar, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers offered 22k gold at Rs 15,010 per gram. IBJA reported 24K gold at Rs 16,234 per gram and silver at Rs 2,43,446 per kg. These rates exclude GST and making charges. Market attention focused on US inflation data and Fed Chair's speech.

Investing in a mix of equities, fixed income, and gold can lead to improved risk-adjusted gains. Gold often acts as a safety net when stock markets decline. By incorporating assets with varying correlations, one can enhance the whole portfolio's performance. Historical evidence reflects gold's resilience during downturns in equities over different fiscal years. This analysis demonstrates that a diversified asset allocation effectively mitigates risks across diverse market environments.

Bernstein has retained an Outperform rating on Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC but cut its target prices and loan-growth estimates, citing stronger competition from banks, slower renewable capacity additions and improving financial health among state-owned DISCOMs. The brokerage lowered its target to Rs 465 for PFC and Rs 410 for REC, while reducing FY26-FY28 loan-book growth estimates to 7%.

ITI Small Cap Fund topped the three-year return chart with a 25.19% return, outperforming its benchmark and category average. While strong stock selection drove much of the outperformance, experts caution investors against extrapolating recent gains. With small-cap valuations appearing broadly fair, investors should focus on portfolio allocation, risk appetite, investment horizon and rebalancing rather than booking profits solely based on past

IHCLs merger with Oriental Hotels is expected to be EPS accretive and strengthen its presence in South India, according to brokerages. Nomura, Goldman Sachs and JM Financial retained Buy ratings on IHCL, citing potential cost synergies, asset optimisation and direct ownership of key properties. The merger is expected to close in FY28.

PPFAS GIFT has cut the minimum investment in its S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 outbound passive funds from $5,000 to $500, effective August 25. The move aims to broaden access to global diversification for eligible Indian investors through GIFT City, offering index-linked exposure to leading US companies without requiring foreign brokerage accounts.

TCS shares rose after the IT major signed a five-year 1.25 billion deal with Porsche AG and agreed to acquire its IT arm, MHP, for 320 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition, expected to close in 34 months, will deepen TCS relationship with Porsche and strengthen its AI transformation push, while expanding its presence among European automotive and industrial clients.

Entero Healthcare Solutions shares rose sharply after Prashant Jain-owned 3P Investment Managers acquired a 2.5% stake in the company through open market transactions. The shares were bought from Prasid Uno Family Trust at Rs 1,377.8 apiece, according to stock exchange data.

Husband taunted wife for her dark complexion, introvert nature; she files 498A IPC cruelty case; Jharkhand HC quashes 498A case, says his conduct is insufficient to constitute cruelty. Read the article to know what happened in this case.

Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech, Wipro and other IT stocks are in focus after the US Department of Homeland Security proposed a $103,265 fee on H-1B cap-subject petitions. The charge would be additional to existing fees and could generate $8.8 billion annually, based on 85,000 petitions. The proposal is not final and will undergo a 30-day public comment period.

Gilt funds are not recommended to regular debt investors because they are risky and volatile. Gilt funds suffer the most when the rates go up. The bond prices and yields move in opposite directions. When the rates go up, bond prices come down. This drags down the NAVs of schemes.