The Economic Times

Gold and silver prices saw an increase on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India following a reduction in US trade tariffs on Indian goods. Experts suggest that while geopolitical ease can reduce safe-haven demand, factors like central bank purchases and industrial demand for precious metals will provide support.

The schemes objective is to seek to generate long-term capital appreciation and/ or income from a portfolio constituted of equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities (debt and money market securities).

Union Budget 2026 just made studying abroad more affordable for Indian families. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slashed the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rate on education remittances from 5% to 2% for amounts above Rs 10 lakh. Read on to find how this will save thousands on overseas education.

Silver emerged as the top-performing asset over the last decade, beating gold, equities, bonds and real estate. Mid-cap stocks led equities, while debt and property lagged due to lower yields, liquidity issues and structural constraints across markets.

The government sticking to the debt-to-GDP anchor will prove to be helpful for bond markets, and tax projections for FY27BE also appear to be reasonable, on a slightly conservative GDP growth estimate of 10% in nominal terms.

Kotak Mutual Fund has announced the launch of the Kotak Services Fund, an open-ended equity scheme following the service theme. The fund enables investors to access Indias core growth engine-the services sector that contributes 55% to the countrys GVA (Gross Value Added) and employs 31.5% of the country's workforce.

Budget 2026 gives Indian taxpayers some much-needed breathing space. With extended deadlines, flexible correction windows, and automated processes, read on to find out how Budget 2026 makes tax compliance easier.

Budget 2026 significantly softens penalties for income tax defaults. The jail term for failing to file ITR with tax exceeding Rs 50 lakh is reduced from seven years to two years. Minor offenses will now only incur fines, and punishment will be graded based on the offense's severity, aiming for decriminalization and rationalization of tax laws.

Gold and silver rallied sharply in January 2026 amid global uncertainty, shifting currency trends, and rising demand for safe-haven assets, driving prices to elevated levels.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I want to gift a large sum to my senior citizen parents so that they can invest in long-term, high-yield FDs. Id like to use the interest earned thus for my personal expenses. Can I open a joint account with them and use the interest without any tax issues?

India's New Baggage Rules 2026 have removed value caps on jewellery brought by returning residents and tourists of Indian origin, now only imposing weight limits of 40 grams for females and 20 grams for others. These revised rules also increase duty-free allowances for various passenger categories, reflecting current travel realities.

In Budget 2026, FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced a key change in the taxation of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs). With a change in the SGB taxation process, here are the latest taxation rules for different types of gold and silver investments.

Jio BlackRock has launched a new digital platform for retail investors. This service offers personalized investment advice using advanced technology. It aims to make structured, data-driven guidance accessible to more people. Investors can start with a small amount and benefit from low advisory fees. The platform is available on JioFinance and MyJio apps, enhancing household investment outcomes.

Budget 2026 has made CBDT guidelines mandatory for all property TDS and transaction participants. This move aims to prevent disputes and litigation by ensuring income tax authorities and deductors uniformly follow these rules. The amendment to Section 400(2) of the Act, effective April 1, 2026, restores the binding nature of these guidelines, offering legal protection and predictability.

Union Budget 2026 keeps tax rules unchanged for India's elderly, offering continuity but skipping major relief measures. Read on to what changed and what stayed the same for Senior Citizens.

Gold and silver ETFs experienced a significant rebound of up to 13% on Tuesday, recovering from a three-day sell-off. Fresh buying emerged at lower levels on the MCX, driving up futures prices for both precious metals. Experts suggest continued volatility but see key support levels holding.

According to a complaint filed by the boys father, a temple priest, the child had grown fond of momo sold at the roadside stall. The vendors allegedly began feeding him free of cost, winning trust bite by bite. Soon came bigger offers food, small sums of money, loyalty. Then persuasion. Unaware of the stakes, the boy began removing jewellery from home and handing it over, police said.

Budget 2026 brings a significant tax change for Sovereign Gold Bonds. Starting April 1, 2026, capital gains exemption will only apply to investors who buy SGBs at issue and hold them until maturity. Those purchasing from the secondary market will face capital gains tax. This impacts investors who previously enjoyed tax-free gains on secondary market purchases.

Budget 2026 has introduced revised income tax return filing dates for specific taxpayer categories. Understanding these new deadlines is crucial to avoid penalties and late fees. The article provides a clear, month-wise guide to help taxpayers identify their due dates, ensuring timely filing and preventing interest charges or delayed refunds.

We have chosen two schemes from five different equity mutual fund categories - aggressive hybrid, large cap, mid cap, small cap and flexi cap schemes which we believe should be enough for regular mutual fund investors.

Gold and silver ETFs have seen sharp pullbacks after strong rallies. Experts advise investors to stay disciplined and align decisions with long-term goals. Market corrections offer opportunities for systematic investment. The recent fall was triggered by global factors and news of potential monetary policy tightening. Investors should rebalance positions as per their asset allocation and avoid impulsive actions.

An Indian taxpayer successfully challenged the tax department in the ITAT Delhi. The tribunal ruled that foreign investments made in daughters' names were adequately disclosed and justified by the taxpayer's income. Furthermore, the ITAT allowed foreign tax credit on Singapore salary, stating procedural delays in filing Form 67 should not deny relief. The revenue's appeal was dismissed.

Arbitrage funds, popular with affluent investors, are set to see returns shrink by 25-35 basis points due to a proposed increase in securities transaction tax (STT) on equity derivative trades. The government's budget proposal raises STT on futures sales, impacting the price anomalies these funds exploit. Despite this, their tax efficiency is expected to maintain popularity.

The government has unified Tax Collection at Source (TCS) rates to a uniform 2% for various transactions, including alcoholic liquor, scrap, minerals, and overseas tour packages. This simplification aims to reduce complexity and improve compliance, while also making foreign remittances for education, medical treatment, and travel more affordable.

Budget 2026 brings major changes to personal income tax. Tax Collected at Source rates are reduced. Deadlines for filing income tax returns are extended. Tax Deducted at Source rules are simplified for manpower services. Small taxpayers get automated lower deduction certificates. Forms 15G and 15H can be filed centrally. Immunity from tax prosecution is expanded.

Investors flocked to exchange-traded funds of gold, other precious metals and gold miners in January, seeking safety amid geopolitical uncertainty, expectations of further dollar weakness, and growing bets on U.S. interest rate cuts.

Radhika Gupta of Edelweiss Mutual Fund advocates equal allocation in gold and silver to reduce volatility and improve long term returns. Highlighting historical data, she notes that while silver offers sharp rallies, combining it with gold creates a more stable and resilient precious metals investment strategy.

Arbitrage fund returns to take a 30-50 bps hit from Budget 2026's F&O tax hike, but post-tax advantage over debt funds intact; SIFs face milder 5-10 bps drag.

The rebound came despite proposals to raise transaction taxes on derivatives and the absence of fresh measures aimed at drawing foreign investment. The BSE Sensex rose 943.5 points, or 1.17%, to close at 81,666.46, while the Nifty 50 advanced 261 points, or 1.06%, to 25,088.4.

Power Grid shares saw a sharp surge on Monday after the PSU raised its FY26 capex guidance to Rs 32,000 crore and increased capitalisation targets, signalling strong execution visibility. The company posted an 8% YoY rise in Q3 net profit to Rs 4,185 crore, with revenue up 10% and expenses moderating sequentially.

Middle-class taxpayers face disappointment as Budget 2026 offers no income tax relief. Instead, several changes could increase costs. These include higher Securities Transaction Tax on derivatives, new taxes on secondary market Sovereign Gold Bonds, and changes to share buyback taxation. Disability pension relief is also withdrawn, and more.

Income Tax Calculator as Per New tax regime vs Old tax regime: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced no changes to income tax slabs for FY 2026-27. Individual taxpayers in the old regime pay no tax up to Rs 5 lakh, while the new regime offers a Rs 12 lakh tax-free income limit. Standard deductions are Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 in the old and new regimes, respectively.

Mirae Asset Mutual Fund has integrated with the ONDC Network in partnership with Cybrilla to simplify mutual fund investing across India. The move aims to improve accessibility, reduce transaction friction and enable investors to transact through an open, platform agnostic digital ecosystem backed by Indias digital public infrastructure.

Gold prices have fallen significantly today, February 2, 2026, following the Budget 2026 presentation. Leading jewellers like Tanishq, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, and Joyalukkas have reported lower rates. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association also shows a sharp decline across all gold purities. New tax rules for Sovereign Gold Bonds are also in effect.

With markets near record highs, experts urge investors to review mutual funds by portfolio role, goals and risk tolerance, not recent returns. Exit only on structural red flags like sustained underperformance, style drift or rising volatility that breaks discipline.

The STT hike on futures and options is set to marginally reduce returns for arbitrage and hybrid mutual funds, as higher transaction costs increase rollover and churn expenses. AMCs estimate an annualised impact of 0.030.33% depending on derivatives exposure, with arbitrage-heavy schemes facing the biggest compression in yields.

Budget 2026 brings significant changes for taxpayers. ET Wealth Online's concerns have been addressed, impacting buyback taxation and NRI property sales. Penalties for minor ITR errors are being reduced, and the Black Money Act is being reformed. These updates aim to simplify tax processes and foster trust. The government is focusing on easing compliance for individuals and businesses.

The Union Budget 2026 has proposed a staggered timeline for filing income tax return (ITR) to ease the rush during the peak filing season . Heres a clear look at who can file their ITR till August 31 and who must still meet the July 31 deadline.

Budget 2026 brings no changes to tax slabs or deductions. However, new labor codes are set to be implemented. This will affect take-home salaries for individuals with Cost To Company packages ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The article details expected net salaries for different CTCs, considering existing tax laws.

Moving beyond rate-centric reforms, the government has focused on re-designing the compliance lifecycle spanning original filing, revision, updated return, and post-assessment corrections so that the tax compliance framework becomes more adaptive, less adversarial, and aligned with modern data flows.

In terms of tax proposals, specifically for individual and small taxpayers, rather than offering immediate tax rate reductions or slab restructuring, the Government has focused on structural simplification, procedural certainty, reduced litigation, and promoting trust-based compliance.