The Economic Times

Quant Small Cap Fund added HDFC Bank and others, trimmed Jio Financial, and exited Stanley Lifestyles in February.

Starting early with mutual fund SIPs leverages the power of compounding, making it easier to build a bigger retirement corpus.

Mutual funds reduced exposure to IT stocks in February, with the sectors weight in portfolios falling to an eight-year low of 6.9%, according to a Motilal Oswal report. The decline follows a sharp fall in tech stock values, even as some fund houses selectively increased holdings in key companies like Infosys and TCS.

Taxpayers are receiving emails from the Income Tax Department about 'significant transactions' and potential shortfalls in advance tax payments. These 'nudge' emails, sent as a taxpayer service initiative, highlight financial activities that may not align with advance tax deposited. Experts advise reviewing these alerts, as they are reminders and not statutory notices, and may contain errors.

Senior citizens can secure attractive fixed deposit rates, with some banks offering up to 7.9% for a five-year tenure on deposits up to Rs 3 crore. While banks deduct TDS on interest exceeding Rs 1 lakh, eligible individuals can submit Form 15H to avoid this deduction if their total tax liability is zero.

Data presented in Parliament reveals a stark disparity, with only one NPS pensioner for every 139 OPS pensioners. While NPS was implemented in 2004, a low number of central government employees have retired under it. As far as pensioners receiving pension under NPS are concerned, as many as 49,802 pensioners were receiving their payouts under the new scheme.

Radhika Gupta urged new investors to stay calm during market swings, saying volatility is a natural feature of equity investing. Citing past geopolitical events, she noted markets typically fall during crises but recover over time, advising investors to avoid panic decisions and continue SIPs for long-term wealth creation.

Vijay, a 43-year-old IT professional, noticed his mutual fund portfolio fall Rs 1.5 lakh in 12 days, raising concerns about regular versus direct plans. Experts say short-term declines are driven by market volatility and geopolitical tensions, not plan type, and advise diversification, disciplined rebalancing, and a long-term investment approach.

Tenants cannot refuse to pay increased rent simply because their 11-month rent agreement is unregistered. Courts have consistently ruled that rent escalation clauses are enforceable even without registration, as long as they were part of the original agreement. While unregistered agreements may have limitations as evidence, the contractual obligation to pay enhanced rent remains valid.

Minimum balance charges: Banks collected significant penalties from customers for low account balances. Public sector banks alone gathered over Rs 8,000 crore. However, zero-balance accounts like those under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana are exempt from these charges.

The Supreme Court quashed a dowry harassment case against a brother-in-law, deeming the allegations vague. The wife's FIR, alleging her veins burst due to dowry demands, lacked specific details regarding dates, times, or the nature of harassment. The court found no proximate link between the alleged harassment and the injury, leading to the case's dismissal against him.

Bank holiday today? Banks will be closed on March 14, 2026? Banks are open on the first, third and fifth (in some cases) Saturdays of the month unless specified as holiday in the RBI holiday calendar. Several other state-specific holidays are also listed for March 2026, impacting bank operations across various regions.

Paying your final car loan EMI doesn't automatically make the vehicle legally yours. Hypothecation, where the bank's name appears on your registration certificate, remains until you formally remove it. You must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and Form 35 from the lender and submit them to the RTO to transfer full ownership.

Capital markets regulator Sebi introduced a framework allowing mutual funds to use intraday borrowing to manage temporary liquidity mismatches. Effective April 1, the rules cap borrowing to same-day receivables, restrict usage purposes, mandate board-approved policies, and ensure asset management companies bear related costs and risks.

Several NSE midcap companies delivered strong growth in the December 2025 quarter, with sales rising over 50% year-on-year. Firms across sectors such as metals, real estate, energy and healthcare reported sharp demand-led expansion, highlighting strong business momentum and growth potential.

Digital transactions are rising in India. This has led to an increase in digital frauds. The RBI is proposing compensation for customers losing money in small-value fraudulent transactions. This move aims to protect vulnerable users and build trust in the digital payment system. Banks and merchants will share some liability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 22nd instalment of the PM Kisan scheme in Guwahati, Assam, transferring approximately to 9 crore farmers. The article also details how beneficiaries can check their names on the official list, understand reasons for potential exclusion, and complete mandatory eKYC through various methods.

Prime Minister Modi will release the 22nd instalment of the PM Kisan scheme today. Over 9.32 crore farmer families will receive more than Rs 18,640 crore directly into their bank accounts. This number is slightly lower than the previous instalment. The government is verifying eligibility to ensure benefits reach genuine farmers. Farmers can check their status online.

A Vallum Capital report shows that domestic and global investors followed sharply different strategies during the recent silver rally. While global institutional investors largely sold during the surge and bought during corrections, Indian retail investors increased buying near the peak and exited during declines, highlighting behavioural differences and timing gaps in ETF investing.

CoinEx dual investment offers a structured approach to crypto trading, generating yield while automating buy-low or sell-high strategies. This product allows users to define target prices and tenors, receiving principal plus yield in one of two assets based on market conditions at settlement. It's ideal for disciplined entry/exit plans and monetizing sideways markets, with opportunity cost being the primary trade-off.

Sharp market fluctuations can significantly deplete retirement savings, especially for those heavily invested in equities. Experts advise a 'protect and grow' approach for retirement-bound investors, balancing growth assets like equities with safer options like debt. This strategy aims to mitigate losses while ensuring long-term corpus preservation.

Amid market volatility, risk-averse investors are exploring special fixed deposits offering higher interest rates. Punjab & Sind Bank leads PSU banks with a 6.75% rate for a 666-day FD for general citizens, while senior citizens can earn up to 7.25%. IDBI Bank's Utsav FD, with a March 31, 2026 deadline, offers competitive rates for both.

The HDFC Defence Fund has sold its entire stake in Cummins India, a large-cap stock that saw substantial growth. The fund has also adjusted its holdings in other companies, increasing its investment in Bosch, Eicher Motors, and Hindustan Aeronautics. This strategic move reflects the fund's active management within the defence sector, aiming for continued capital appreciation for investors.

Jefferies has updated its analyst top ideas, adding seven new stock recommendations across various sectors. These picks include State Bank of India, Groww, Star Health & Allied Insurance, Bharat Forge, JSW Steel, Eternal, and Max Healthcare, with significant upside potential highlighted for each.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd PM Kisan instalment today. Over 9.32 crore farmer families will receive more than Rs 18,640 crore directly. This transfer will bring the total disbursed amount to Rs 4.27 lakh crore. Women farmers will also receive financial assistance. e-KYC is mandatory for all beneficiaries.

A recent court ruling clarifies property rights. A son does not automatically inherit a father's self-acquired property. Birthrights only apply to ancestral property. Fathers can freely sell, gift, or bequeath their self-acquired assets. This distinction prevents disputes arising from mistaken beliefs about joint family property. Clear documentation of property origin is crucial for families.

A woman's Rs 50 lakh insurance policy purchase was deemed an unexplained investment. She claimed HUF funding from agricultural income. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Chandigarh rejected this. Lack of documentary proof for the HUF's funds and a questionable Memorandum of Understanding led to the decision. The tax department's action was upheld.

Equity mutual funds saw a significant surge in inflows during February, with large, mid, and small-cap categories experiencing notable increases. This rise, driven by lower redemptions, suggests a potential return of investor confidence in equities, though experts advise against chasing trends and emphasize aligning investments with personal risk profiles and long-term goals.

Flexi cap mutual funds offer the fund managers the freedom to invest across market capitalisations and sectors/themes. It means the fund managers can invest anywhere based on his outlook on the market.

Gold and silver ETFs saw a dip on Friday. This decline occurred as surging energy prices lowered expectations for early U.S. interest rate cuts. Higher oil prices fueled inflation concerns, creating uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's rate cut plans. This situation has somewhat diminished gold's safe-haven appeal. Experts advise investors to buy on dips and hold for long-term diversification.