The Economic Times

Punjab National Bank customers using MasterCard for international transactions face continued suspension of services linked to Russia. This action aligns with global sanctions. The bank also announced the discontinuation of complimentary airport lounge access for its MasterCard Platinum Debit Cardholders from June 1, 2026. New fixed deposit rates are effective from the same date.

The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began its three-day meeting on Wednesday, with most economists expecting the central bank to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% when it announces its decision on June 5.

Several smallcap funds have demonstrated strong performance, with five achieving over 25% annualized returns in the past three years. Bandhan Small Cap led the pack with a 29.4% return. In contrast, five other prominent small-cap funds experienced slower growth, delivering single-digit gains.

Four mutual fund NFOs and one SIF are currently open for subscription, offering exposure to smallcap, large & midcap, and factor-based strategies. Investors should align selections with goals and risk appetite.

Franklin India Dividend Yield Fund delivered exceptional returns. A Rs 10,000 monthly investment since inception grew to over Rs 1.2 crore in 20 years. The fund's AUM also crossed Rs 2,300 crore. It follows a dividend yield strategy, investing in companies with consistent payouts. This approach aims for steady compounding and downside protection.

Gold prices held steady across major Indian jewellers on June 3, 2026, despite global market jitters. However, the IBJA reported a dip in its indicative rates. Geopolitical tensions and potential US interest rate hikes are influencing investor sentiment, while India's tightened silver import rules add another layer to market dynamics.

SIPs offer multiple investment options, including regular, top-up, flexi, perpetual, trigger, goal-based, step-up, and multi-SIPs. Choosing the right SIP depends on financial goals, risk appetite, cash flow, and market understanding.

India's gold reserve: Reports of the Reserve Bank of India selling gold have been debunked by the central bank and the PIB Fact Check team. The RBI confirmed its physical gold stock remains steady at 880.52 tonnes. While the quantity has been stable, the value of gold reserves has significantly increased due to rising global prices, offering reassurance to investors.

Retirees now have a new way to manage their National Pension System (NPS) corpus, offering flexibility and potential for growth. The Retirement Income Scheme (RIS) allows keeping savings invested post-retirement, generating regular income through Systematic Payout Rate (SPR) or Systematic Unit Redemption (SUR) options. This approach balances market exposure with risk management, aiming for sustainable income over long retirements.

Equity mutual funds delivered positive returns on Systematic Investment Plans over the past five years. Many funds provided double-digit XIRR. HSBC Midcap Fund and Bandhan Small Cap Fund led with over 20% XIRR. This analysis highlights strong SIP performance across various fund categories. Investors saw significant growth on their regular investments.

Employee bodies from Jammu & Kashmir have urged the 8th Pay Commission to adopt a fitment factor between 2.86 and 3.68, which could raise the minimum basic pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 51,480Rs 66,240. They also sought pension parity, DA merger, improved HRA, healthcare, tax relief, career progression, and special consideration for employees serving in remote, border and hardship areas.

SBI Card is revising reward point programs for PhonePe SBI Credit Cards, effective July 1, 2026. Both PURPLE and SELECT BLACK cardholders will face new monthly caps on reward points for PhonePe and online spends. Additionally, the SELECT BLACK card will exclude several transaction categories from earning rewards.

Nine midcap funds posted strong five-year consistency scores, led by Nippon India and HDFC. The CRISP Scorecard highlights their risk levels, investment styles, returns, and assets under management as of March 2026.

A software engineer's father's health insurance claim was denied by HDFC ERGO due to an alleged alcohol history. The insurer repudiated the claim despite hospital clarifications. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed HDFC ERGO to pay Rs 6 lakh with interest and ordered the hospital to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation. The commission found the denial unjustified and a deficiency in service.

An investor planning early retirement at 50 with a Rs 12.5 crore corpus seeks expert advice on generating Rs 2 lakh monthly income. The expert outlines a goal-based framework, recommending a balanced 60% equity and 40% debt allocation for retirement and a more growth-oriented mix for long-term wealth creation

Amidst market volatility, advisors recommend large cap mutual funds for conservative investors seeking safer equity investments. These funds, mandated to invest in top 100 companies, offer inflation-beating returns with lower risk. While some schemes have faced recent underperformance, long-term potential remains, with specific funds highlighted for June 2026.

Indians exchanging old gold for new should be aware of potential taxes on sales and purchases. The Income Tax Department monitors high-value gold transactions, including large cash deposits or unexplained sources of funds. Proper documentation is crucial to avoid scrutiny and penalties, especially when dealing with inherited, gifted, or imported gold.

Taxpayers are advised to delay filing their Income Tax Returns for AY 2026-2027 until after June 15th. This allows for the accurate updation of the Annual Information Statement with data from companies and banks. Salaried individuals should also wait for their Form 16. Filing without complete information can lead to discrepancies and potential tax notices.

A wife can still seek more maintenance money even after signing a waiver agreement for a lump-sum payment. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that such agreements go against public policy. The court stated that a Rs 60,000 waiver was insufficient. The wife's inability to maintain herself, despite past work, allows her to claim maintenance.

Individuals and certain entities will face a maximum 39% income tax rate under the new tax regime for Tax Year 2026-2027. This Maximum Marginal Rate applies to specific income categories to prevent tax avoidance. The new regime streamlines surcharges, capping them at 25%. However, exceptions exist, potentially leading to higher rates in specific AOP or BOI scenarios.

Wealth managers are favoring balanced advantage funds due to attractive large-cap stock valuations and high bond yields. These funds dynamically adjust equity and debt allocations, offering moderate returns with low volatility, making them suitable for first-time investors seeking stability and better returns than fixed deposits.

smallcase has launched mutual fund model portfolios, expanding beyond stocks and ETFs. The new offering provides professionally managed portfolios of direct mutual funds across asset classes, helping investors simplify fund selection, portfolio construction and monitoring while aligning investments with specific financial goals.

OPD cover in health insurance addresses out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits, diagnostics, and medicines without hospitalization. While beneficial for those with chronic conditions or frequent consultations, it may not be cost-effective for healthy individuals. Carefully review sub-limits and exclusions before purchasing.

A monthly SIP of Rs 20,000, coupled with a Rs 1 lakh lump sum investment and an assumed annual return of 12%, can help investors accumulate a corpus of about Rs 3 crore in roughly 23 years and 7 months, according to calculator estimates.

Filing your Income Tax Return is more than just a tax duty. It acts as a vital financial record. It helps in getting loans approved. You can claim tax refunds if you paid extra. Your ITR proves your income, especially for freelancers. It allows carrying forward losses to reduce future taxes. Many countries require it for visa applications.

Gold prices held steady on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, across major jewellers like Tanishq and Kalyan, despite a slight uptick in benchmark IBJA rates. 22k gold remained at Rs 14,365 per gram at Tanishq, while other brands also maintained their previous day's pricing.

HSBC Mutual Fund has launched the RedHex Hybrid Long-Short Fund, a Specialised Investment Fund strategy aimed at generating regular income and capital appreciation through a diversified mix of fixed income, equity arbitrage, REITs and InvITs. The fund targets risk-adjusted returns with lower volatility and offers weekly redemption opportunities.

Investors receiving a large lump sum for long-term goals should avoid immediate equity deployment. Financial planners suggest parking funds in liquid instruments and using Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs) over 12 months to mitigate market timing risks. This staggered approach, combined with a diversified equity allocation, aims to optimize returns over a 20-year horizon.

EPFO subscribers are awaiting their FY 2025-26 interest credit, despite the 8.25% rate announcement in March. While delays are common due to government approval and account reconciliation, experts assure members that interest accrues monthly and won't be lost. EPFO calculates interest on the running balance, ensuring full credit even with administrative lags. Members can check their updated passbook for confirmation.

EPFO members are warned that e-nominations are invalid without e-signing via Aadhaar authentication. This crucial step ensures family members can receive EPF, EPS, and EDLI benefits without delays. Failure to e-sign means the nomination won't be processed in case of the member's death.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am a 50-year-old widower. My wife passed away a few years ago. I currently have around 800 grams of gold that belonged to her and my late mother, combined. I have two daughters, aged 12 and 13. I would like to understand how I can transfer or gift this gold to my children. I do not have the purchase invoices for the gold.

Quant Mutual Fund is strategically focusing on under-owned, under-researched, and neglected market segments for higher alpha generation. The fund house is underweight on manufacturing but has increased exposure to technology stocks, while maintaining a positive outlook on energy, infrastructure, and financial services.

Market volatility prompts a look at multicap and flexicap mutual funds. Experts weigh in on their suitability for uncertain times. Multicap funds offer disciplined allocation across market caps. Flexicap funds provide managers flexibility to adjust holdings. A balanced portfolio strategy across different equity categories is advised for investors to navigate market swings effectively.

Investing Rs 10,000 monthly in a Post Office Recurring Deposit for five years yields a higher maturity amount than an SBI RD. The Post Office RD offers an estimated Rs 7.14 lakh, while SBI RD provides Rs 7.02 lakh. This difference means an investor earns approximately Rs 12,244 more with the Post Office option.

New investors often struggle to find suitable mutual funds, relying on short-term performance or personal recommendations. ETMutualFunds presents a curated list of top schemes across five equity categories to guide investors. The article emphasizes understanding fund categories, risk profiles, and investment objectives before investing.

A Chennai woman successfully appealed a tax notice after selling her apartment for Rs 35.5 lakh, including Rs 2.5 lakh in cash, and buying a new one from her son-in-law. The ITAT Chennai ruled in her favor, upholding the validity of registered documents and bank transactions, and deleting additions made under Section 69A.

Indian residents with foreign pension accounts like 401(k) from working in the US, UK, or Canada can now defer India tax liability. By filing Form 40 electronically before the income tax return deadline, taxation shifts from accrual to withdrawal basis. This option, once exercised, is generally irrevocable but becomes void if the individual becomes a Non-Resident.

Challenging equity market returns are prompting retail investors to reassess their stock market exposure. Industry data reveals a rise in systematic investment plan (SIP) discontinuations and a slowdown in new investor additions. This trend indicates investor disappointment with lower-than-expected returns. The situation highlights a shift in investor sentiment amid market conditions.

The April 2026 AICPI-IW data has raised expectations of a possible 3% dearness allowance (DA) hike for central government employees, though the final rate will depend on May and June inflation data. The 12-month average AICPI-IW from May 2025 to April 2026 stands at 147.51, translating to an estimated DA of 62.51%, which could be rounded to 63%. If approved, a 3% DA hike would increase the salary of a Level 5 employee by about Rs 876 per month.

Gold prices saw a dip today, Monday, June 1, 2026. This movement occurred amidst geopolitical tensions stemming from US claims of attacks on Iranian military bases. US President Donald Trump indicated Iran's desire for a deal.