The Economic Times

A Mumbai tenant received a Rs 11 crore apartment for giving up tenancy rights during redevelopment. The Income Tax department questioned the deal, calling it a sham. However, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Mumbai ruled in the tenant's favour. The tribunal confirmed tenancy rights were valid and the flat was consideration for surrendering these rights. Tax exemption was allowed.

Converting large credit card bills to EMIs offers immediate relief by breaking down payments, but comes with significant costs beyond stated interest rates. While 'zero-cost' EMIs often involve hidden markups, understanding the true expense and necessity is crucial before opting in. Timely EMI payments can benefit credit scores, but missed payments have severe repercussions.

Systematic Investment Plans in equity mutual funds are showing losses over one and two-year periods. This trend is impacting investors who began after 2020. A recent market sell-off has further pushed these investments into negative territory. Experts advise continuing SIPs and topping them up to accumulate more units at current prices.

Indian markets look set for a rebound as GIFT Nifty surged 3.6% on Monday following US President Trumps announcement to delay strikes on Iranian power plants. Investor optimism grew amid expectations of ceasefire talks, easing oil prices, and sharp Wall Street futures gains after days of steep market selloffs.

Sula Vineyards CEO Rajeev Samant raises stake to 23.27% with Rs 3 crore share purchase, marking his first buy since the 2022 listing. The shares bought by the promoter would be worth more than Rs 2.7 crore.

Warren Buffett emphasizes the importance of saving first, then spending, as a crucial habit for long-term financial success. Developing this habit early is key to a brighter financial future.

Zerodha Fund House has launched the Zerodha Nifty MidSmallcap400 50:50 Index Fund, an open-ended equity index fund. This new offering allows investors to equally allocate to mid-cap and small-cap segments of the Indian market, with subscriptions closing on April 6. The fund aims to provide broad exposure to 400 companies, offering potential for long-term capital growth with a high-risk appetite.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) reduced their stakes in several companies during the December 2025 quarter, coinciding with declining sales and profit growth. This trend, observed in 48 stocks exceeding Rs 2,500 crore market cap, signaled potential underlying issues. Nine of these stocks experienced significant price corrections of 25%-45% in the preceding three months.

The Ministry of Railways has revised kilometrage allowance and Allowance in Lieu of Kilometrage (ALK) effective January 1, 2024. This revision, triggered by Dearness Allowance reaching 50%, offers relief to running staff ahead of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The update addresses long-standing demands from railway federations, with all other terms and conditions remaining unchanged.

Vedanta Ltd on Monday announced a third interim dividend of Rs 11 per share for FY26. The board approved the payout earlier in the day and informed the exchanges during market hours. The company has set Saturday, March 28, as the record date to determine shareholders eligible to receive the payout.

Mid and smallcap funds saw significant AUM growth over five years, with CAGRs of 32.41% and 39.93% respectively. However, geopolitical tensions and foreign fund outflows may impact their near-term performance, prompting investors to adopt a cautious stance amid market volatility.

Escalating Iran tensions and oil above $110 have triggered a risk-off selloff in Indian markets, with Sensex crashing and Rs 13 lakh crore wiped out amid FII outflows, rupee weakness, and rising inflation fears.

Gold price today (23 March 2026): Gold and silver prices have plummeted, offering a significant buying opportunity for jewellery shoppers. This sharp decline, attributed to a strengthening US dollar amidst geopolitical fears, has seen substantial drops in bullion rates. Global gold prediction trends remain volatile.

Investors using SWP from mutual funds are taxed only on capital gains, not the full withdrawal amount. Experts suggest structuring withdrawals to keep annual LTCG within Rs 1.25 lakh to avoid tax. Understanding lock-in periods and fund structure is crucial, especially in equity-oriented childrens mutual funds.

A 38-year-old investor aiming for a Rs 3 crore corpus over 15 years received expert advice to bolster his SIP strategy. The recommendation includes adding a low-cost Nifty 50 index fund for a stable large-cap foundation, while continuing with existing flexi-cap, midcap, and small-cap funds, emphasizing patience for underperforming schemes.

Airline stocks fell sharply Monday. Experts predict a significant rise in jet fuel prices from April 1. This follows recent declines due to Middle East conflict concerns. International fuel prices have nearly tripled. Indian fuel prices may increase substantially. Discussions are underway to manage costs. Airlines are introducing fuel charges to offset expenses. This situation impacts operations and passenger fares.

The Nifty Bank index slumped over 3% to an 11-month low as selling hit major lenders, including State Bank of India and HDFC Bank. A weaker rupee, persistent FII outflows and geopolitical tensions kept sentiment bearish, with analysts warning that volatility and downside risks may persist.

India's Income Tax Act, 1961, is set to be replaced by the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026. To ease this transition, the Income Tax Department has launched an online tool. This utility allows taxpayers to compare provisions side-by-side, mapping old sections to new ones. It simplifies understanding changes in tax laws and aids informed decision-making.

HDFC Bank's chairman resigned over ethical differences, sparking market turmoil. The rift reportedly stemmed from disagreements on accountability for client losses tied to Credit Suisse bonds and Dubai branch restrictions. The former chairman sought greater responsibility for senior officials, clashing with management's approach.

Indias health insurance journeys are increasingly phygital: customers research and apply online, but still rely on human advisors at critical decision and claim moments. We trace how tech-enabled advisors, especially outside metros, use digital tools and local support to bridge the access gap in an age where their digital skills now matter as much as their product knowledge.

Top NPS equity funds have delivered strong performance, offering up to ~16% returns over the past three years, highlighting their growing appeal for long-term investors.

Despite recent stock dips, Jefferies maintains a positive outlook on Paytm and Pine Labs, citing strong growth forecasts and attractive valuations. Both companies are targeting over 20% revenue growth and margin expansion, driven by network expansion and new initiatives. Jefferies reiterates 'Buy' ratings, though target prices are adjusted.

Global markets see investors moving to cash. Rising oil prices and inflation fears are causing this shift. Money market funds are attracting record amounts of money. Traditional safe havens like gold and bonds are losing appeal. Investors are adopting a cautious wait-and-watch approach. This defensive positioning prioritizes capital preservation over seeking returns.

Vedanta shares fell after the Supreme Court upheld a ruling denying concessional diesel rates under Form C, citing misuse beyond mining purposes. The verdict adds regulatory pressure amid ongoing legal challenges and corporate developments, including its move against Adanis Jaiprakash Associates deal and an upcoming board meeting on dividend consideration.

Joint bank Fixed Deposit accounts often have an 'either or survivor' clause. This allows the surviving holder to access funds after the other's death. However, this access does not grant legal ownership. Ownership is determined by succession laws and Wills, not just the operational mandate. This differs from bank lockers where ownership is even less clear.

HDFC Bank share price tumbled for the fourth consecutive day, losing 10% and erasing Rs 1.35 lakh crore in market cap following a key executive's resignation. The bank's leadership is now set to review past decisions and strengthen controls to address concerns raised. Technical indicators suggest a potential rebound despite a bearish trend.

A private trust received shares worth Rs 15.78 crore from its creator for family benefit. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ruled this transfer tax-exempt. The tribunal considered a supplemental deed that clarified beneficiaries were exclusively relatives. This decision reinforces tax exemptions for family trusts and clarifies treatment of advance tax deposits.

Hindustan Zinc shares saw a significant drop on Monday. This decline followed a sharp fall in silver prices. Rising global tensions and inflation fears are impacting commodity markets. Higher crude oil prices are also contributing to these concerns. The company's stock has experienced a notable decrease over the past month. This situation affects industrial costs and potentially demand for silver.

Precious metal ETFs saw sharp declines on Monday. Silver ETFs dropped up to 20%, while gold ETFs fell as much as 9%. This downturn was driven by Middle East tensions and inflation fears. Experts advise against panic selling, recommending continued SIPs to buy at lower prices. Investors can consider tactical top-ups in diversified funds.

Indias solar manufacturing sector is set for structural change as ALMM expands to include wafers, driving backward integration and consolidation. Analysts see Waaree Energies and Premier Energies as key beneficiaries due to strong capacities and integration strategies, with policy support and localisation efforts expected to boost long-term growth and competitiveness.

Conservative hybrid mutual funds are similar to erstwhile monthly income plans or MIPs. MIPs were extremely popular at one point. They used to invest a small part of their portfolio in stocks. But their USP, as the name suggests, was regular income in the form of dividends. However, regular dividends stopped when the market got into a bad phase. That was the end of MIPs. The lesson: do not bank on hybrid funds to secure a regular income.

As the new financial year begins, experts advise new investors to start SIPs with a blend of large-cap and flexi-cap mutual funds. Gold is recommended for hedging against global uncertainties, while silver is advised against due to current valuations. Investors should maintain disciplined SIPs, avoid pausing during volatility, and consider stepping up investments annually for long-term wealth creation.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn on Monday, with Sensex and Nifty both plummeting. This sharp selloff, wiping out substantial market capitalization, was driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, a weakening rupee, and broad-based losses across all sectors. Investors reacted negatively as major indices and most individual stocks traded in the red.