The Economic Times

Partition of a property means the legal division of jointly owned property among co-owners or legal heirs, severing joint occupancy into individual shares. Now you can either do partition of the family property amicably via a registered partition deed or through a civil court by filing a partition case if property disputes arise, resulting in each heir getting a defined portion.

The strategy has, however, lagged higher-returning asset classes such as gold and global equities, with 14.7% and 18.6% annualised returns, respectively, over the same period. How gold, equity or debt behaves in isolation is very different from how a well-constructedcombination performs, said Aashish Sommaiyaa, ED & CEO, WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund.

Maharashtra is set to become India's first state to digitize Living Will records. A new portal on mahaulb.in will allow citizens to permanently store their medical treatment preferences. This initiative aims to eliminate practical hurdles and provide clear, legally backed direction for end-of-life care. Municipal officials will act as custodians, ensuring secure maintenance and access to these vital documents.

The Reserve Bank of India has eased rules for non-banking financial companies. NBFCs can now open branches without prior approval in most situations. This change aims to simplify business operations. Deposit-taking NBFCs have specific conditions based on their net owned funds and credit ratings for opening branches or appointing agents.

With TradFi Perpetual Contracts, Binance has introduced round-the-clock trading for stocks, commodities, and indices. A look at why this matters, and what it means for Indian retail investors.

A 34-year-old investor's Rs 30,000 monthly SIP portfolio, despite diversification, has seen short-term losses amid market volatility. Experts advise a more aggressive equity allocation and disciplined investing to achieve a Rs 3-4 crore retirement corpus by age 56, emphasizing compounding and regular reviews.

SBI Mutual Fund has launched two new passive debt index funds, targeting short-term investment needs in the financial services sector. These funds, SBI CRISILIBX Financial Services 36 Months Debt Index Fund and SBI CRISILIBX Financial Services 912 Months Debt Index Fund, offer transparent, low-cost solutions. The NFO is open until April 20, with a minimum investment of Rs 5,000.

In Chennai too, gold prices rose slightly in line with the larger trend in India. As per the prices quoted by leading jewellery retailers in the city, the price of 24 karat gold was around Rs 15,622 per gram, while 22 karat gold was largely priced between Rs 14,320 to Rs 14,240 per gram.

Gold prices are climbing ahead of Akshaya Tritiya on April 19, 2026, a highly auspicious day for buying precious metals. Leading jewelers like Tanishq and Kalyan Jewellers have seen a rise in 22k gold rates. IBJA's indicative rates also show an upward trend for various gold karats and silver, signaling increased demand.

Akshaya Tritiya 2026: Jewellery brands are launching special offers for Akshaya Tritiya 2026. Customers can avail pre-booking schemes, cashback, and gold rate protection plans. These schemes allow buyers to lock in gold prices or benefit from lower rates.

The Wealth Company Mutual Fund, part of the Pantomath Group, has launched its SIF brand WSIF along with two new funds featuring differentiated long-short strategies. The new fund offerings aim to combine equity investing with tactical hedging approaches, marking the fund houses entry into the emerging Specialised Investment Funds category.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and GAIL are among eight stocks that may be downgraded to the midcap category, while Vodafone Idea, currently a midcap, could be upgraded to the largecap segment in AMFIs semi-annual rejig in H2 CY26, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities.

Mutual funds made a complete exit from seven stocks in March, according to monthly data released by Prime Database.

Muthoot Exim's Swarnavarsham scheme offers a buy-now-pay-later solution for low and middle-income gold buyers. Customers pay a 15% down payment and lock in prices, with the balance payable in flexible installments over 3 to 9 months, ensuring price protection against market volatility.

Gold ETFs have seen a sharp rise in investor preference amid geopolitical tensions and a strong rally in gold prices, ICRA Analytics said. AUM surged nearly 65% CAGR over five years to Rs 1.71 lakh crore, while inflows jumped to 2,266 crore in March 2026, highlighting growing demand for safe-haven assets.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has replaced Forms 15G and 15H with a single Form 121, effective April 1, 2026, under the new Income-tax Act, 2025.

In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary of India, the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers (CCGEW) writes that its affiliated organisations will hold a lunch hour protest at all work places on April 16, 2026. The government last announced the DA hike in October 2025, which was for July 2025. While central government employees and pensioners have got their arrears for that hike, their wait for the January 2026 DA hike is still not over.

Flexi-cap mutual funds attracted record inflows in March, reflecting strong investor demand for diversified and flexible equity strategies amid market volatility. Experts view the surge as a sign of growing confidence in the category, driven by its ability to dynamically allocate across market caps during uncertain times. While concerns about overcrowding remain, the trend largely indicates disciplined investing and a preference for flexibility rather than momentum chasing.

Gold and silver ETFs surged up to 9% on Wednesday, driven by falling crude oil prices and renewed hopes of US-Iran talks easing Middle East supply concerns. Softer oil prices also alleviated inflation worries, boosting sentiment for precious metals. Experts suggest current levels offer a timely opportunity for long-term investors to accumulate precious metals for portfolio diversification amid global uncertainties.

Reserve Bank of India is consulting banks on ways to attract larger and more stable deposits as household savings shift to equities and mutual funds, putting pressure on liquidity. Deposits are growing slower than loans, increasing funding costs and credit-deposit ratios.

Aditi Kothari Desai of DSP Asset Managers is the guiding light for investors grappling with market turbulence. Emphasizing the trio of discipline, consistency, and patience, she warns against knee-jerk reactions to headlines, particularly amid geopolitical unrest. For her, Systematic Investment Plans are essential lifelines in these unpredictable times.

Indian mutual funds bought more shares in March as the Nifty index fell. They focused on banks and financial companies, seeing better value. Power sector stocks also saw increased investment. This shows a move towards domestic growth areas. Concerns about global conflicts are influencing these investment choices.

The New Delhi Municipal Council is adopting a new property tax system. This move to the Unit Area Method will bring fairness and predictability for property owners. The old rateable value method, which was subjective, is being replaced. Homeowners can now understand and verify their tax liabilities more easily.

Four key changes to Income Tax Return (ITR) assessment rules will be effective from April 2026 for Tax Year 2026-27. These amendments, introduced in the Finance Bill, 2026, aim to enhance efficiency and transparency in tax assessments. The changes cover tax notices, DIN in communications, assessment completion timelines, and block assessments.

Among debt fund schemes, overnight funds recorded redemptions of 40,227 crore followed by money market funds with an outflow of 29,207 crore, and low-duration funds, which recorded an outflow of 25,227 crore.

Bank holiday: Banks across several Indian regions are closed today, April 15, 2026, due to various regional festivals like Bengali New Year, Bohag Bihu, and Vishu. These holidays vary by state, with institutions remaining open in areas not observing these specific celebrations, as per the RBI's calendar.

A minimum pay of Rs 69,000, fitment factor of 3.83, annual increment of 6%, merging 18 employee levels in the 7th Pay Commission into seven, minimum five promotions during service and restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) are some of the 8th Pay Commission-related demands of the draft committee of National Council (Joint Consultative Machinery).

Dubai gold rates today: Following US President Donald Trump's speech and the breakdown of US-Iran peace negotiations, investors are keeping a close eye on gold and silver prices.

Prime Delhi markets like Khan Market and Lajpat Nagar are commanding high commercial property rentals, a recent report reveals. While premium malls offer consistent returns, many brands are opting for high streets due to limited mall inventory. This trend is observed across major cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, with apparel and F&B sectors showing strong leasing activity.

Boosting SIP investments beyond salary hikes can significantly amplify wealth creation. Increasing SIPs by 20% annually, compared to a flat investment or an 8% increase, can generate substantially larger corpuses over two decades. This strategy combats lifestyle inflation and enhances financial security.

Gold and silver prices are under investor scrutiny after US-Iran peace talks faltered. Pakistan is working towards a ceasefire to facilitate renewed diplomacy. Gold rates at leading Indian jewellers like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Joyalukkas, and Malabar Gold & Diamonds saw a decrease. The Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd (IBJA) rates were not updated due to a holiday.

EPFO has extended the functionality for members to de-link incorrect Member IDs (MIDs) from their Universal Account Number (UAN). This allows correction of MIDs created without member knowledge, even if contributions exist. However, MIDs with processed, pending, or multiple claims will not be eligible for de-linking.

Property ownership in India, once a symbol of security, now presents significant legal challenges due to unclear titles and disputes. Buyers face risks from historical discrepancies and competing claims, locking capital and stalling income. Proactive legal due diligence, careful transaction structuring, and understanding tenant rights are crucial for navigating these complexities and protecting valuable assets.

Sankaran Naren advises starting SIPs as valuations improve, but cautions against 2020-like returns, favors IT, pharma, energy, remains wary on midcaps, sees selective smallcap opportunities, and stresses disciplined, macro-driven investing.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an interim pay hike for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers, effective April 1, 2026. Workers in Noida and Ghaziabad will receive the highest increase of 21%, while other districts see hikes of nearly 15% and 9.21% respectively. The government also debunked rumors of a Rs 20,000 statewide minimum wage.

Gold price today in Chennai (April 14, 2026): In Chennai too, gold prices were slightly up on Tuesday in line with the larger trend in India. As per the prices quoted by leading jewellery retailers in the city, the price of 24 karat gold was around Rs 15,404 per gram.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am 80 and my wife is 78. We currently have medical insurance coverage of Rs 7 lakh each. We would like to increase the coverage to Rs 10 lakh each. Is this -possible?

Despite market volatility, six AMCs held over 10,000 crore in cash in March, reflecting a cautious stance even as fund managers actively deployed liquidity to buy equities during the correction.

HDFC Defence Fund significantly boosted its holdings in Hindustan Aeronautics and Eicher Motors during March, adding thousands of shares to its portfolio. The fund also introduced Sedemac Mechatronics as a new investment while exiting Avalon Technologies. Its portfolio remains diversified across key defence and allied sector stocks.

Nine equity mutual funds exceeded Rs 60,000 crore AUM by March 2026, led by Parag Parikh Flexi Cap. Major contributors include HDFC, SBI, ICICI, Kotak, and Nippon India funds leading.

Sovereign Gold Bond : The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2019-20 Series-V, set at Rs 15,009 per unit. Investors can redeem these bonds from April 15, 2026, after the fifth year of issuance.