The Economic Times

Cutting through money jargon, one topic at a time. This week, Sanket Dhanorkar explains fixed income investing strategies and which ones suit which investors.

Welcome to TrendMap, your guide to the performance of different investment segments. No single segment always leads. In this edition, we present a 10-year equity performance tracker, ranking annual returns across market-cap segments. Investors risk appetite has turned more selective in 2026 so far. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Find out how lifestyle creep undermines wealth creation and how to enjoy a better standard of living without sacrificing your financial goals.

The Indian institutional framework poses unexpected risks. Not only is insurance costly for seniors, its not available as a standardised social welfare benefit. Unexpected spikes in health cost can throw off a retirees spending patterns well out of balance. Reliance on children and privatisation of senior health care poses a serious risk.

According to data from ILM Research (previously known as Beshak Research), 15 of 31 non-life insurers paid out over 95% of their approved health claims (including cashless hospitalisation claims, where the insured does not have to pay out of pocket) within a month in financial year 2025-26, while the rest were slower.

This is a global problem. A World Health Organization report found that out-of-pocket expenses for medicines and other medical products push up to 12% of households in European countries into poverty or deepen their financial hardship.

Retailers use a bagful of psychological triggers and pricing tricks to sell more during sales. Heres how you can avoid overspending.

General, or non-life, insurance is expected to play a more integral role in financial planning over the next 25 years, shows an ICICI Lombard report.

Waiting until the last minute in the hope of a sale can be costly. Airlines use dynamic pricing, and cheaper fares may disappear as more seats sell. If your dates are fixed, compare fares as early as possible and book when the price is reasonable for your budget. Set fare alerts to track changes, but dont delay your booking expecting for a drop in prices.

Axis Pension Fund intends to enhance its National Pension System offerings to provide better retirement savings options. The introduction of NPS Swasthya addresses the health insurance needs for older customers effectively. Despite tax benefits, low awareness continues to hinder corporate NPS uptake among employees. Further clarity on Tier-II NPS account taxation and extended tax deductions could encourage broader participation.

Investors must position fixed income portfolio for further rate hikes. But this cycle may look different.

When markets fell, BAFs had an opportunity to increase equity exposure. Many did, while others were more cautious.

A Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund manager shares his journey across the sell side and buy side, investment philosophy based on growth at a reasonable price, and focus on business quality, management integrity and valuations.

Equity mutual funds lost up to 9.06% last week, with international funds dominating the list of top losers. Six funds declined more than 6.50%, led by Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF FoF, followed by Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500-focused funds.

Investor confidence in small and mid-cap stocks is strong, with rising valuations when compared to large caps. Last month, small and mid-cap funds garnered Rs 16,873 crore, accounting for 44% of the total equity fund inflows. Despite a drop in equity fund assets, overall inflows have seen a 31% uptick, indicating healthy market dynamics.

Gold- Silver rate today (October 24, 2026): Gold prices saw a decline on October 24, 2026, providing a welcome opportunity for jewelry shoppers. Major jewelers like Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds have released their prices across different cities.

Gilt funds are back in focus among investors with interest rates rising and bond yields across the world moving up sharply, as reported by ETBureau.

Five equity mutual funds have offered over 18% annualised return on SIP investments in 10 years, as reported by ETWealth. (As of October 14, 2026)

Five mid cap mutual funds have offered upto 21% return in the last three years. Here is a detailed breakup, as reported by ETWealth. (As of October 14, 2026)

With uncertainty clouding equity markets, investors looking to deploy a lumpsum face the challenge of allocating their money across asset classes. Four wealth management experts recommend a mix of equities, debt and gold, with the allocation depending on an investor

Rolling returns serve as a valuable tool for investors to assess mutual fund performance by averaging annualized returns over several timeframes. Unlike trailing returns that might reflect a distorted perspective, rolling returns utilize daily NAV data to provide a holistic view. By applying a CAGR formula, investors can evaluate consistency and adaptability of funds across diverse market conditions, making informed decisions easier and more precise.

Most of us will engage in festive shopping, making credit cards an appealing choice for discounts and cashback offers. But before choosing a card, analyse fees, rewards, and conditions on cashback. Check these 7 credit cards that are offering up to 10% cashback on online shopping, among other offers. These cards also have a low joining fee and one of them is lifetime free.

DA hike news: As of now, the central government has not disclosed the dearness allowance hike for July 2026, leaving employees in suspense. Hopes were raised during recent cabinet discussions, yet no announcement was made. The next potential reveal is scheduled for October 28, 2026. Workers are eagerly awaiting this increase, which will directly affect their salaries and ongoing allowances, with arrears also considered for the July-December 2026 timeframe.

In instances where an individual passes away without leaving a Will, it may be essential for legal heirs to execute a release deed to streamline property division. This deed enables co-owners to relinquish their interests officially in favor of another heir, mitigating future inheritance disputes. Even registered Wills may occasionally require this document, particularly if the registrar mandates it, necessitating legal advice to navigate the challenges.

In the UK, employees receiving per diem must be mindful of reporting amounts that exceed HMRC limits, as these payments are taxable income under UK law. Those who face expenses while at temporary jobs can benefit from tax relief, subject to defined limits. It's crucial to report accurately to prevent issues with tax authorities, with obligations varying by residential status and relevant treaties.

Senior citizens in India have exciting options for fixed deposits, with top banks enticing them with appealing interest rates. Leading the pack, Suryoday Small Finance Bank boasts a remarkable 8.5% for five-year deposits. It's important for savers to be aware of TDS regulations that apply on annual interest exceeding Rs 1 lakh, so filing Form 121 can prevent this.

Banks across India are closed today, October 24, 2026, marking the fourth Saturday of the month. Its advisable for customers to reschedule their banking activities for the following business day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

An Indian taxpayer from Bangalore faced a setback when his foreign tax credit was denied due to late submission of Form 67. However, the ITAT clarified that such delays shouldn't negate the entitlement to foreign tax credits. This pivotal decision, which takes into consideration recent legal interpretations on procedural mistakes, will now be forwarded to the Assessing Officer to reassess the claim.

ICICI Bank and Indian Bank have raised fixed deposit interest rates for select tenures effective October 23, 2026. Indian Bank also adjusted its rates, increasing FD rates on their special 555-day and 777-day FDs.

The Delhi State Legal Services Authority is set to conduct a National Lok Adalat from 10 am to 4 pm at multiple court locations throughout New Delhi. This initiative will tackle civil and criminal compoundable cases, allowing litigants to refer their matters by visiting designated court complexes.

EPS-95: Private sector employees wins case for higher pension as Bombay HC rules higher pension can be given even if PF trust rules capped the contributions at statutory wage ceiling limit

From diversifying beyond equities and exploring real estate investments to planning early retirement, navigating legal complexities and understanding the wealth potential of artificial intelligence, Day 2 of ET Wealth Expo 2026 will examine how investors can multiply wealth, achieve financial freedom and make informed financial decisions.

The Reserve Bank of India has finalized the redemption price for future Sovereign Gold Bonds, allowing investors to redeem them early after a five-year period. This price is based on recent average gold closing prices.

Among the seven recommended flexi cap mutual funds, Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund and SBI Flexi Cap Fund stand out for their commendable track records. Evaluated on parameters like returns, consistency, and asset size, these funds have consistently outperformed over the past five years. Investors with a medium risk appetite looking to invest for a period of five to seven years should consider flexi cap funds for potential wealth accumulation.

The Parag Parikh ELSS Tax Saver Fund has struggled to meet its benchmark over the past one, two, and three years. Yet, it retains a five-star rating from research platforms like PrimeInvestor. Investors are advised to consider the fund's long-term performance and portfolio strategy, alongside monitoring its investment protocols and risk controls. The three-year lock-in period for ELSS investments also plays a crucial role in decision-making.

Gold Silver Price October 23, 2026: Gold prices continued to decline on October 23, 2026, with notable reductions at major jewellers. Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers lowered their 22k gold rates significantly.

For investors who prefer a cautious approach, financial experts often endorse conservative hybrid mutual funds as a solid way to diversify portfolios. These funds typically allocate the bulk of their investments to debt instruments while holding a smaller share in equities. While such funds lower exposure to stock market volatility, investors must remain vigilant and understand the inherent risks involved, especially when selecting from recommended top-performing funds.

Bank of Baroda has initiated a festive campaign providing various retail and MSME loan options for customers. The campaign includes home loan interest rates starting from 7.40% with waived processing fees for eligible borrowers.

Ola Electric shares fell sharply on Friday after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to Sell from Neutral and cut its target price to Rs 23, implying a 28% downside. The brokerage lowered its FY27-FY29 revenue estimates by up to 10%, citing prolonged operating losses and challenges in sustaining market share.