The Economic Times

Edelweiss Asset Management Company crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in equity AUM, with total assets reaching Rs 1.78 lakh crore. The milestone reflects growing retail participation, strong SIP inflows, consistent fund performance and rising investor confidence in long-term wealth creation.

Paisabazaar has launched PB Pass, a new complimentary airport lounge access program for its credit card users, offering entry to over 1,800 lounges globally. This benefit is available to new credit card applicants upon activation and first bill payment via the Paisabazaar app.

EPF Scheme 2026: The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026, has replaced the 1952 version, bringing the EPF under the new Social Security Code. While key benefits like contribution rates and UAN remain unchanged, the new framework emphasizes digital processes and introduces stricter governance for exempted trusts.

Diversification is key to successful investing, and Multi-Asset Allocation Funds offer a balanced approach. These funds invest in at least three asset classes, including equity for growth, debt for stability, and gold for diversification, ensuring a resilient portfolio. By combining these elements, investors gain exposure to multiple return sources through a single, convenient solution, helping navigate market cycles and achieve long-term goals.

Retirement planning often pits National Pension System (NPS) against equity mutual funds. While mutual funds offer flexibility and potentially higher returns, NPS boasts significant tax advantages and low costs. Read the article to know how a monthly investment of Rs 15,000, which goes up by 5% every year, can grow over 20 years in NPS and mutual funds.

Parents can open a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account for their minor children to secure their future, benefiting from compounding over the 15-year maturity period. While the annual contribution limit is 1.5 lakh across all minor accounts and the parent's own PPF, it offers tax benefits under the old regime.

Gold prices saw a slight dip today, July 1, 2026, across major Indian jewellers. Consumers looking to purchase gold jewellery will find it beneficial to compare rates from brands like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers.

Over the next 18 months, AlphaGrep Investment Management Pvt plans to unveil about half a dozen mutual funds, Chief Executive Officer Bhautik Ambani told a press conference Tuesday. On July 6, it will launch the first fund, a dynamically managed multi-asset fund investing across equities, fixed income and commodities.

A new Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026, has replaced earlier pension schemes, effective June 29, 2026. While core benefits like the pension formula and contributions remain, key changes include faster pension claim settlements within 20 days and a 12% interest penalty for EPFO delays.

Labour Bureau reading for DA hike: The latest AICPI-IW data for May 2026 indicates that central government employees are likely to receive a 3% dearness allowance (DA) hike, taking DA from 60% to 63%. A 4% hike appears unlikely unless June's AICPI-IW reading jumps to around 154.5, with the final outcome depending on June inflation data and the government decision.

As taxpayers gear up for ITR filing in AY 2026-27, understanding the consolidated Form 168 (formerly AIS and Form 26AS) is crucial. This unified document offers a comprehensive view of your financial footprint, detailing income sources, investments, and tax credits. Reviewing it meticulously against your records helps ensure accurate reporting, prevent mismatches, and avoid potential tax notices, streamlining your return submission.

EPFO services, including online claim submissions and passbook downloads, will be unavailable until July 1, 2026, due to a system migration. Members can check their EPF balance via a missed call if their UAN is linked with Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details.

A 45-year-old salaried investor with a Rs 3 lakh monthly income sought expert advice on whether his mutual fund portfolio can support retirement at 60. The expert recommended continuing disciplined SIPs, consolidating 17 mutual fund schemes into seven, maintaining liquidity, and avoiding premature allocation for discretionary goals like buying a luxury car.

AlphaGrep Mutual Fund has launched its inaugural fund, the AlphaGrep Multi Asset Allocation Fund, marking its entry into the Indian retail market. This open-ended fund employs a systematic, quantitative approach to dynamically allocate capital across equities, fixed income, and commodities, aiming for long-term growth with minimal human bias. The NFO opens July 6 and closes July 20, offering institutional-grade strategies to everyday investors.

ETMutualFunds has unveiled recommended mutual fund portfolios for July 2026, catering to conservative, moderate, and aggressive investors. These curated SIP baskets, designed for long-term goals like retirement, are based on a robust methodology evaluating returns, consistency, risk, and outperformance. The selection process for equity, debt, and hybrid funds ensures a data-driven approach to investment choices for a broad audience.

The Bombay High Court has overturned disciplinary action against an SBI employee, ruling that a shared auto-rickshaw is not a 'workplace' under the POSH Act. The employee faced harassment charges after an incident during his commute. The court emphasized that for the Act to apply, transportation must be employer-provided. This decision leaves the merits of the harassment allegation open for other legal avenues.

Stock market traders, especially those involved in intraday and F&O trading without a registered business, need to understand tax audit rules. Income from these activities is typically classified as speculative business income. Turnover calculation, based on the aggregate of positive and negative differences, determines audit applicability, generally requiring an audit if it exceeds Rs 10 crore for banking channel transactions.

Suspect unfair appraisal in the private sector? Indian courts examine five key tests to detect bias. They first establish a comparable employee, then identify the grounds for discrimination, often focusing on protected characteristics. Employers must provide documented justifications for pay differences. Crucially, documentary evidence is vital. If proven, remedies can include back pay and compensation, though courts generally defer to management discretion in non-protected cases.

Unsure if your fund manager is truly active? Active share reveals how much a mutual fund's portfolio deviates from its benchmark index. A low active share might mean paying active fees for index-like performance. Understanding this metric helps investors identify genuine active management and avoid 'closet index funds,' potentially leading to better investment decisions.

The older mAadhaar App is retiring on June 30, 2026, making way for a new, enhanced Aadhaar App. Don't worry, your existing Aadhaar records will not be deleted; the app is merely a service access point.

Small savings scheme interest rates: The Finance Ministry has kept interest rates on all small savings schemes unchanged for the JulySeptember 2026 quarter. Rates remain 8.2% for SCSS and Sukanya Samriddhi, 7.7% for NSC, 7.5% for Kisan Vikas Patra and 5-year deposits, 7.1% for PPF, and 4% for Post Office Savings Account.

New Railway Act amendments, effective July 2026, significantly hike penalties for common travel offenses. Travelling without a ticket now incurs fare plus a minimum Rs 500 penalty, shifting from criminal charges to recovery.

Retiring with Rs 2 crore? Experts advise a prudent 3.5-4% withdrawal rate, yielding around Rs 60,000-Rs 70,000 monthly. This sustainable income hinges on lifestyle, inflation, and investment strategy, with a balanced portfolio of equities and bonds crucial. Avoiding common pitfalls like excessive early withdrawals and neglecting healthcare costs ensures your corpus lasts.

Over 30 years ago in 1995, Amish Anantrai Modi had booked some shops in a project for a total consideration of Rs 25 lakh. In his complaint, the buyer said that he needed suitable commercial premises to expand his existing business activities and earn his livelihood by means of self-employment. However, the builder never started construction of the proposed project.

The new fund offer or NFO of the fund is open for subscription and will close on July 14. The scheme will reopen for continuous sale and repurchase within five business days from the date of allotment.

Gold prices saw a dip across major Indian jewellery brands on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, offering buyers welcome relief. Leading retailers like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas reported lower rates for 22-carat gold in key cities.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: My wife and I have had a floater health insurance policy for over four years. We declared diabetes as a pre-existing condition. Now we have high cholesterol and mild fatty liver. Will my insurance cover pre-existing and new illnesses?

UTI Mutual Fund has significantly boosted its stake in MCX, acquiring nearly 15 lakh shares for a substantial Rs 425 crore via an open market deal. This move comes as MCX reported a remarkable surge in its March quarter profits, nearly quadrupling to Rs 530 crore and tripling revenue. The commodity exchange, a dominant player with over 98% market share, saw its shares dip slightly following the transaction.

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath said building long-term wealth does not require chasing hot stocks or timing the market. He stressed that investors often overcomplicate investing by trying to predict markets or pick from thousands of options. In a post on X, he said good outcomes come from doing a few boring things well through disciplined, low-touch investing.

Central government departments must submit pay revision data for the 8th Pay Commission by today, June 30, 2026. Submissions are strictly online via the commission's portal; physical or emailed data will be rejected.

Choosing the right mutual funds for a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) hinges on individual financial goals, investment horizon, and risk tolerance, not a universal list. Experts advise aligning fund choices with withdrawal timelines, suggesting equity/hybrid for long-term wealth building and debt funds for immediate income needs. Understanding tax implications of Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs) is also crucial for a balanced investment strategy.

As Section 143(2) scrutiny notices for AY 2025-26 reach taxpayers during the ITR filing season for AY 2026-27, this article explains why taxpayers receive scrutiny notices, how they should respond, the consequences of non-compliance and under-reporting of income, the relief available under Section 270AA, and the key compliance lessons for filing current-year returns.

Around 10 equity mutual funds delivered returns of over 25% in the first half of 2026, with Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund more than doubling investors' money. The top performers were largely international and thematic funds, while technology-focused schemes dominated the list of worst-performing equity mutual funds during the period.

Confused by interest rate shifts? Dynamic bond funds offer a solution, allowing managers to adjust investments based on market outlook. While not foolproof, these funds could shine if the RBI begins rate cuts later this year, potentially rewarding debt mutual fund investors after muted performance. For those investing three to five years without wanting to predict rate movements, dynamic bond funds present an option.

Retirement planning: Dipping into your retirement corpus for urgent needs can be a costly mistake, potentially costing you lakhs by retirement. Experts emphasize building a robust emergency fund, ideally covering six months to two years of expenses. This fund, held in low-risk, easily accessible instruments like savings accounts or liquid funds, acts as a crucial buffer against unforeseen events, safeguarding your long-term financial future.

Indians working abroad can now potentially avoid paying tax on selling Indian shares. The key is to have purchased these shares using convertible foreign exchange. This provision, under Section 215 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, allows for tax exemption if the sale proceeds are reinvested in specified Indian assets within six months. However, a three-year lock-in period applies to the reinvested assets.

A Telangana High Court ruling has revived a property deal after a buyer's nine-year delay in paying the Rs 8 lakh balance. Despite the seller's initial opposition, the court condoned the extensive delay, allowing the buyer to complete the sale by depositing the outstanding amount with 12% annual interest. The court emphasized that the seller's failure to appeal the original decree prevented him from opposing the sale now.

Aarogya Setu 2.0, a new Personal Health Record app, launched today, offering users access to health services, secure record storage, and nearby facility searches. Developed under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, it integrates PM-JAY services and introduces Ayushman Sarathi, a WhatsApp chatbot for easier access.

Delays in SWP payouts should be treated as delayed mutual fund redemptions. SEBI requires payouts within three working days, with delayed payments potentially attracting investor interest compensation.

JioBlackRock has launched its Prism Hybrid Long-Short Fund, an innovative interval investment strategy allowing twice-weekly redemptions. This fund aims to generate capital appreciation and income by blending equity, debt, derivatives, and alternative investments. Designed for dynamic markets, it seeks to deliver better risk-adjusted returns with lower volatility, leveraging BlackRock's global expertise and advanced technology. The New Fund Offer is open until July 13.