The Economic Times

Quant Mutual Fund has appointed veteran fund manager Mahendra Jajoo as a whole-time director on its AMC board, effective January 14, 2026. With over 30 years of experience across leading financial institutions, Jajoo previously served as CIO Fixed Income at Mirae Asset, overseeing substantial growth in the fund houses debt AUM.

Six mutual funds added 11 new mid-cap stocks to their portfolios in December, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities. The additions were spread across sectors, with funds selectively increasing exposure through fresh inclusions. The changes reflect evolving portfolio strategies amid market conditions and stock-specific opportunities.

ETMutualFunds has shortlisted select small-cap funds using metrics such as rolling returns, consistency, downside risk, outperformance and asset size. Over the last three years, these schemes have delivered varied return profiles and quartile rankings. Given their volatility, small-cap funds are best suited for aggressive investors with long-term horizons.

Four new mutual fund schemes are set to open for subscription this week, spanning large-cap, money market, consumption-focused and mid-cap categories. Launched to expand fund house offerings, these NFOs cater to varying risk appetites and investment horizons, giving investors fresh options to align portfolios with their financial goals.

Equity mutual funds delivered strong performance last week, with several schemes generating over 3% returns as sectoral and thematic funds led gains. Despite mixed global and domestic index trends, select international funds emerged as top performers, highlighting investor interest in overseas markets amid broader volatility.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: After retiring from a public sector bank, I transitioned to teaching at various MBA institutes in Mumbai and also work as a consultant with banks and related organisations. I have been filing my income-tax returns in the standard manner. Some friends have suggested that I should, instead, file my returns under Section 44ADA of the Income-tax Act to potentially reduce my tax liability.

While the 10% surcharge introduced in 2013 was intended for a single year, the policy has since evolved into a complex, multi-tiered system. The abolition of the Wealth Tax in 2016 further institutionalized this shift, practically moving away the tax burden from accumulated assets to annual income flows. There is the need to design it in a manner that does not inadvertently penalize productive capital.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Indias second largest AMC with Rs 11.49 lakh crore AUM, remained heavily invested in large caps like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, RIL, Infosys and Axis Bank, with marginal weight reductions across most top holdings in December.

Five mutual funds, including HDFC, SBI, Kotak, Axis, and ICICI Prudential, completely exited seven midcap stocks in December, adjusting portfolios to optimize returns amid market movements.

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting online account credentials, with 88.5% of phishing scams focused on stealing login details. Stolen data is consolidated into dumps and sold on the dark web, often used for highly personalized and targeted attacks. Prompt action, including changing passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication, is crucial if you become a victim.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund increased stakes in 475 stocks, reduced 29, and added four new companies in December. Financials dominated with 30% allocation, followed by consumer discretionary, industrials, IT, energy, and commodities.

Senior citizens can still secure attractive fixed deposit rates, with some banks offering up to 7.5% for a three-year term on deposits up to Rs 3 crore. While small finance banks lead with these high rates, investors should be aware of deposit insurance limits. TDS on FD interest exceeding Rs 1 lakh can be managed by submitting Form 15H.

Indian households gained 117 lakh crore in 2025 as gold prices surged, delivering the biggest wealth boost in 25 years. The windfall strengthened spending buffers, lifted gold-backed loans, highlighted equity underperformance, and reinforced disciplined asset allocation across equity, debt and gold.

Investing Rs 10 lakh requires a smart approach. Experts guide on optimal investment mixes for one, three, and five-year goals. For short terms, focus on safety with fixed income. Longer horizons allow for growth through equity and hybrid funds. Tax efficiency is key, with strategies to minimise your tax outgo. Plan your investments wisely for better returns.

A teacher has won a significant legal battle in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. She was denied an assistant professor position despite holding a Ph.D. in the relevant subject. The university had overlooked her M.Sc. in Botany, deeming it not a concerned subject. The court has now directed the university to reconsider her application, granting her marks for her M.Sc.

A buyer's ownership of disputed ancestral land is now uncertain. Relatives sold part of the land while a title dispute case was ongoing. The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the buyer is automatically subject to the final verdict. This means the buyer's rights depend entirely on the outcome of the pending court case.

Bank holiday today: On a Saturday, you may find yourself in a dilemma whether banks are open or closed. Should you go for your bank work or your effort will go in vain. It happens because banks dont open on all Saturdays in a month

A prepayment strategy can significantly reduce your home loan tenure and interest payments. By paying one extra EMI annually on a Rs 50 lakh loan at 8.5% for 25 years, you can save approximately Rs 18.31 lakh in interest and shorten the loan term by over 5 years.

While some people may have the skill, experience and time to do it themselves, however, many people lack it. So, should they still manage their personal finance themselves or take the help of a qualified professional advisor?

Kotak Mutual Fund has launched the Kotak Nifty200 Value 30 Index Fund, a passive offering tracking value score-based stocks from the Nifty 200, aiming to give investors low-cost, diversified exposure to fundamentally strong companies trading at reasonable valuations long term.

DSP Mutual Fund, in its latest equity report Beyond the Efficient Frontier, has identified key investment themes to watch in 2026 amid evolving interest rates, policy signals and global trends. The fund house sees opportunities in select pockets of the market, including banks and NBFCs, IT services, consumer-focused businesses, PSUs, power, healthcare and agri-inputs.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched two new investment strategies under its Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) segment: the iSIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund and the iSIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund. Both funds, designed to offer adaptive, risk-managed investment solutions, are open for subscription through their NFOs, which will close on January 30.

The fund house added 10 new stocks to its portfolio during the month. Among these, nearly 40 lakh shares of Aequs were added, followed by 37 lakh shares of Wakefit Innovations and 20 lakh shares of ICICI Prudential AMC.

Seven mutual funds reduced exposure to 18 midcap stocks in December as part of portfolio rebalancing. Funds including HDFC, SBI, Kotak and Quant Mutual Fund trimmed stakes across banking, capital goods, pharma and consumption-focused names.

As Union Budget 2026 approaches, investors are focusing on PSU, infrastructure, manufacturing, and defence sectors. Experts anticipate continued government support and policy reforms in these areas. Mutual funds aligned with these sectors are drawing attention. Investors are advised to assess these opportunities for potential growth, considering the medium-term outlook and disciplined investment approaches

Arbitrage funds are taxed like equity mutual funds. This means they qualify for long term capital gains tax of 12.5% if investments are held for more than a year. If investments are for less than a year, short term capital gains tax of 20% will be applicable.

The Madras High Court has ruled that taxpayers can claim deductions under Section 80-IB without owning the land. This decision supports a previous order by ITAT Chennai. The court found that land ownership is not a prerequisite for claiming this tax benefit. The ruling benefits Smt Rajini, who developed a housing project through a Power of Attorney.

Central government employees and pensioners await the 8th Pay Commission's fitment factor decision, expected in late 2027. Experts predict a range of 1.83 to 2.57, with potential for uniform or differentiated application across pay levels. The revised payouts will impact all employee groups and retirees.

The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that employees can be switched to a more beneficial pension scheme like General Provident Fund (GPF) even without formally opting in. This decision applies if the employee was appointed before January 1, 1986, and did not explicitly choose to remain in the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF).

The current car perquisite policy under the Income Tax Act, 1961, offers tax benefits for combustion engine cars but lacks clarity for electric and hybrid vehicles. Experts urge the government to introduce specific regulations for EVs and hybrids to encourage corporate adoption and support India's electrification goals.

Banks will be closed in Tamil Nadu on January 16, 2026, for Thiruvalluvar Day. Andhra Pradesh banks will also be shut for the Kanuma festival. Further bank holidays in January 2026 include Thiruvalluvar Day on January 17 in Tamil Nadu. Republic Day on January 26 will see nationwide bank closures.

Mutual fund managers adjusted portfolios in December, buying Swiggy and Zomato amid underperformance and favoring Tata Consultancy Services over Infosys. They also rotated allocations in InterGlobe Aviation following a selloff due to mass flight cancellations, preparing for the Q3 results season.

Driving without third-party motor insurance in India carries severe penalties. This mandatory cover protects accident victims financially. Penalties include hefty fines, potential imprisonment, and license suspension. Read on to know the penalties for not having it, costs for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, available discounts, and more.

The Supreme Court ruled that a widowed daughter-in-law is a dependant entitled to maintenance from her deceased father-in-law's estate under Section 21(vii). Denying maintenance payment on technical grounds violates her right to live with dignity. The court also emphasised the pious obligation of the father-in-law to support her if she cannot maintain herself.

Sovereign gold bond: Investors in Sovereign Gold Bonds 2019-20 Series-II can redeem their holdings from January 16, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price at Rs 14,092 per unit. This price is based on the average gold price over three preceding working days.

SBI Mutual Fund, Indias largest by AUM, held Rs 12.74 lakh crore in December 2025. Its top holdings were led by HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank, with marginal monthly weight changes across major banking, telecom and industrial stocks.

Indian retirement schemes are not fully tax-exempt as commonly believed. Contribution and growth limits mean many salaried individuals face multiple taxes on their savings. Outdated exemption thresholds penalize middle-income earners. This disconnect between policy and economic reality discourages long-term investing. Will Budget 2026 help?

A new health insurance plan, Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima, has been introduced for CGHS beneficiaries, expanding medical coverage with cashless treatment and a wide hospital network. The optional plan offers sum insured options of Rs 10 lakh or Rs 20 lakh, with AYUSH treatments covered 100% and modern treatments at 25% or 100% with a rider.

Under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, both registered and unregistered wills are legally acceptable as long as they if are properly written drafted and signed. However that said, registering a will adds an extra layer of security and reduces future legal battles. Read on to find out what to know before registering your will.

HDFC Flexi Cap Fund, a leading fund, added Eternal to its portfolio in December while reducing holdings in Swiggy and three other firms. The fund also boosted its stake in Infosys. Its portfolio now spans 51 stocks across 21 sectors, with a significant allocation to banks.

Salary Account for central govt employees: Central government employees can now open a new Composite Salary Account. This package provides zero-balance accounts, concessional loan rates, and significant insurance covers.