The Economic Times

The shares of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) fell 5% to settle at Rs 4,024 on Monday after media reports claimed that a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) crashed during a training sortie.

With a Rs 3 crore corpus and no liabilities, a systematic withdrawal plan can offer a tax-efficient and flexible retirement income. Experts suggest hybrid funds, disciplined withdrawals around 7%, and periodic review to balance growth and stability while managing market volatility and ensuring long-term sustainability of post-retirement finances.

Mutual funds held nearly 99 crore shares of IDFC First Bank before the Rs 590-crore Chandigarh branch fraud triggered a massive market selloff on Monday. Tata MF, HSBC MF, Motilal Oswal MF and others had the highest exposure. The episode raises concerns over governance, institutional confidence, and potential portfolio impact for several large fund houses.

Sectoral and thematic mutual fund inflows have plunged nearly 89% year-on-year to 1,043 crore in January 2026, reflecting weak performance, heightened volatility, and shifting investor preferences, according to ICRA Analytics. Investors are moving away from concentrated thematic bets toward diversified strategies as sector cycles reverse and caution rises.

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) premature redemption dates: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the details of the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) tranches that are scheduled for premature redemption from April 2026 to September 2026.

An investor's Rs 95,000 monthly SIP towards a Rs 5 crore goal appears on track, potentially reaching Rs 6 crore in 15 years with a 12% annual return. While the investment amount is robust, holding 16 mutual funds warrants a closer look at scheme overlap and diversification to ensure optimal returns and manage risk effectively.

A Pune taxpayer faces a hefty Rs 9.44 lakh penalty for misreporting Rs 10.65 lakh in deductions, including fake claims for political donations and medical expenses. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal upheld the penalty, deeming the misreporting a conscious act rather than a bonafide mistake. This resulted in a 200% penalty on the additional tax liability.

Best-performing NPS equity funds have delivered up to 18% returns over the past 3 years see detailed performance and picks.

IDFC First Bank reported unauthorized transactions by employees at its Chandigarh branch, impacting Haryana government accounts by approximately Rs 590 crore. While the bank investigates and plans recovery, the RBI assures no systemic issue.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is considering new investment avenues. These include emerging sectors like rare earths, railways, and defence. The organisation also plans to introduce performance-linked incentives for its fund managers.

PPFAS GIFT has launched two passive outbound fund of funds tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices. The schemes offer Indian investors exposure to U.S. equities via GIFT City without foreign accounts. With a low minimum investment and competitive expense ratios, the funds target global diversification through a regulated platform.

Even if probate is granted for a Will, Indian law allows for its revocation if a criminal court later declares the Will forged. This ruling highlights that parallel proceedings for Will forgery and probate can continue simultaneously, with a criminal court's finding of forgery providing grounds for revoking probate under the Indian Succession Act.

A Kerala man received Rs 25,000 compensation after his new motorcycle developed gearbox problems just three days after purchase. The consumer commission ordered the service centre to repair the bike or pay additional compensation. The bike spent considerable time at the service centre without resolution. The manufacturer was exonerated due to lack of expert inspection.

Indias banking sector earnings are expected to rebound strongly, growing about 17% CAGR over FY27-28, after a modest 3% growth in FY26, according to an IIFL Capital report. The recovery will be driven by faster loan growth, improving net interest margins, and stable asset quality, with earnings revisions turning positive and signalling an inflection point for the sector.

Gold and silver Exchange Traded Funds saw significant gains on Monday. This surge was driven by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump's decision to impose new global tariffs also fueled demand for these precious metals as safe havens. Several silver ETFs experienced substantial increases, while gold ETFs also reported gains.

Corporate bond mutual funds invest at least 80% of their corpus in the papers of the highest-rated companies. This makes them relatively safer than other debt schemes such as credit risk funds. They are also safer than gilt funds and long term debt funds that are highly sensitive to interest rate changes in the economy.

Banks across India will observe closures on various holidays throughout the year. These include national and state-specific observances, as well as special events like elections. Municipal elections in Jharkhand on February 23, 2026, will lead to bank closures there. Customers should plan transactions accordingly, as some services require branch visits.

India's monetary policy panel unanimously decided to maintain the repurchase rate at 5.25%, deeming it appropriate amidst buoyant growth and benign inflation. This decision follows a US trade agreement that has boosted optimism for exceeding growth forecasts, with inflation expected to remain stable and external risks perceived as limited.

Young Indians, particularly Gen Z, are facing a growing debt crisis. Easy digital loans and lifestyle demands are pushing them into significant debt. Many struggle to repay, leading to harassment and financial ruin. Experts highlight the need for responsible borrowing and financial literacy to navigate these challenges and avoid a widespread crisis.

State-run banks are outperforming India's stock market, attracting foreign investment despite broader equity pullbacks. These lenders are showing stronger growth prospects and better valuations, with foreign investors increasing their stakes to multi-year highs. This resilience signals a reallocation towards steadier earnings, contrasting with tech sector outflows.

Investors are flocking to multi-asset funds, with new 'omni' and fund-of-funds (FoF) variants emerging. These newer offerings provide manager diversification and style diversification, along with favourable tax treatment. However, they lack exposure to foreign equities, limiting global diversification compared to traditional multi-asset funds.

New draft rules for the Income Tax Act, 2025, are sparking a debate between old and new tax regimes. Salaried taxpayers may find the old regime more beneficial if they can utilise exemptions like house rent allowance and other deductions. The proposed rules offer higher exemption limits for certain allowances.

Gold and silver funds experienced strong rallies and sharp corrections, creating opportunities for tax harvesting. Investors can strategically use capital losses to offset gains or leverage the LTCG exemption to retain more profits. Careful timing and adherence to tax rules can significantly improve post-tax returns without altering long-term allocations. Tax harvesting can help investors lock in gains, adjust losses, and step up acquisition costs without changing their long-term precious metals

Indian investors acquiring Dubai properties without proper outward remittances are facing Directorate of Enforcement scrutiny. Violations of FEMA, including illegal money transfers and misdeclarations under the LRS, can lead to penalties and attached Indian assets. Proper documentation and compliance with both Indian and foreign regulations are crucial to avoid issues.

The Wealth Company Asset Management, India's newest fund house, is making waves. CEO Madhu Lunawat is prioritizing distributor partnerships and understanding investor behavior. This approach aims to build trust and long-term investment. The company is also launching unique schemes like an Ethical Fund. Their strategy focuses on education and merit-based investments in a growing market. She talks on fixing distribution gaps, resisting hype and building a performance-led fund house, in conversatio

Indian data centre shares saw a significant rally last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's goal to become a global AI hub. This announcement, made in the presence of AI leaders, boosted the market value of data centre companies. Major tech firms and Indian conglomerates are investing in India's data centre infrastructure.

Welcome to TrendMap, your visual guide to investment performance. This edition tracks 10 years of global equity returns. Currency fluctuations impact the returns on foreign investments. To capture the real value from an Indian investors standpoint, these returns are adjusted to reflect their equivalent in Indian rupees. The key takeaway: no market dominates, diversification matters. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Standard deviation, while common, inadequately captures investment risk due to its equal treatment of gains and losses and assumption of symmetry. Skewness and kurtosis offer crucial insights, revealing the asymmetry and frequency of extreme returns. Combining these measures provides a more comprehensive understanding of potential upside and downside, enabling better risk management.

Credit card companies are changing reward systems. American Express is shifting to a milestone structure for its Platinum Travel Card. Other banks like ICICI Bank, SBI, and HDFC Bank are also adjusting perks. These changes require higher spending for benefits. Users must adapt their strategies for optimal card usage.

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 91st part of this series, Riju Mehta explains all about this category of small-ticket loans.

Comfort in a career is a silent assassin, leading to stagnation and a decline in market value. Professionals must embrace discomfort, continuously learn new skills, and seek challenging roles to remain relevant and build career insurance. Disrupting oneself and redefining comfort through growth is crucial for long-term success.

Gold and silver funds experienced strong rallies and sharp corrections, creating opportunities for tax harvesting. Investors can strategically use capital losses to offset gains or leverage the LTCG exemption to retain more profits. Careful timing and adherence to tax rules can significantly improve post-tax returns without altering long-term allocations. Tax harvesting can help investors lock in gains, adjust losses, and step up acquisition costs without changing their long-term precious metals

Investors are flocking to multi-asset funds, with new 'omni' and fund-of-funds (FoF) variants emerging. These newer offerings provide manager diversification and style diversification, along with favourable tax treatment. However, they lack exposure to foreign equities, limiting global diversification compared to traditional multi-asset funds.

The Wealth Company Asset Management, India's newest fund house, is making waves. CEO Madhu Lunawat is prioritizing distributor partnerships and understanding investor behavior. This approach aims to build trust and long-term investment. The company is also launching unique schemes like an Ethical Fund. Their strategy focuses on education and merit-based investments in a growing market. She talks on fixing distribution gaps, resisting hype and building a performance-led fund house, in conversatio

In several cases, it has been observed that despite clear instructions to place funds in flexible deposits or other fixed deposit instruments offering higher rates of interest, banks are retaining the funds in savings accounts, resulting in lower returns and consequent financial loss to the Government, as per the notification.

YES Bank anticipates a 1 per cent return on assets by the end of the current financial year. This profitability metric is expected to surpass 1 per cent in the next fiscal year. The bank's net profit saw a significant increase in the December quarter. Strategic initiatives are in place to enhance asset utilization and profitability.

EPFO has reinstated the option for employees to link their pension scheme contributions to their full basic salary. This move offers relief to a limited group who previously opted for higher contributions, restoring a provision discontinued in 2014. The decision aims to address long-standing confusion regarding pensionable salary caps.

Indian markets head into Monday amid fresh tariff uncertainty after Donald Trump raised temporary US import duties from 10% to 15%, following a Supreme Court setback. While experts say markets may price in continuity, near-term volatility remains likely. Export-oriented sectors could see knee-jerk reactions as investors assess legal risks, refund implications and the broader India-US trade understanding.