The Economic Times

Bank unions across the nation are set to embark on a nationwide strike on September 11, 2026, advocating for crucial reforms in the banking sector. This is followed by planned strikesin last week of September an indefinite strike starting October 26.

Tax-gain harvesting allows investors to sell profitable equity mutual funds and reset their cost basis tax-free by setting off long-term capital gains against carried-forward property losses. Financial experts outline how setting off LTCG against long-term capital losses helps optimize tax efficiency while maintaining core long-term investment strategies.

Over the four quarters through June 2026, FIIs steadily increased their holdings in around 15 BSE midcap stocks

SIP calculators can overstate realistic wealth creation by assuming fixed contributions for decades. DSP Mutual Fund highlights how income-adjusted SIPs, market downturn stoppages and withdrawals can significantly reduce final corpus, making affordability, discipline and staying invested crucial for long-term compounding.

An ETMutualFunds analysis reveals that 15 equity mutual funds multiplied lumpsum investments by over 4.3 times in seven years. Small cap and mid cap schemes dominated the performance list, led by Quant Small Cap Fund, which delivered a 7.75x return alongside strong growth across flexi cap and ELSS categories.

Gold price today: gold prices dropped notably at major Indian jewellery brands, a reaction to an unexpectedly robust US jobs report. This development sparked heightened bets on potential Federal Reserve rate hikes, which in turn affected bullion demand negatively.

8th Pay Commission latest news: As discussions unfold, employee and pensioner associations are set to engage with the 8th Pay Commission on salary and pension concerns. Their aim is to raise the annual increment rate from three percent to a range of five to seven percent. This adjustment seeks to enhance salary progression over shorter timelines, with projections indicating that increased increments could yield significant earnings growth, bypassing the need for a fitment factor.

Nine midcap funds stood out for their high performance consistency over the past five years, based on the CRISP Mutual Fund Scorecard for the quarter ended June 2026 by Share.Market by PhonePe. The funds were assessed on performance consistency, risk versus peers, investment style, five-year CAGR and AUM.

HDFC Bank has reduced its MCLR rates on select tenures by up to ten basis points. These revised rates will become effective from September seventh, 2026. Borrowers with loans linked to this regime will experience some financial relief.

RWA earned rent by letting out common areas and collected maintenance from residents and seeked charitable trust registration; ITAT Chandigarh rejects RWAs appeal. Laliet Kumar, a Judicial Member and Manoj Kumar Aggarwal, an Accountant Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Chandigarh gave this judgement.

In the past six months, smallcap mutual funds have delivered excellent returns, prompting investors to reassess their future investment plans. Experts recommend maintaining a careful allocation to small-cap funds, suggesting that any additional investments should be made gradually in the forthcoming months. Investors should prioritize consistent and methodical allocation instead of impulsively pursuing market rallies.

Rs 1.23 lakh tax demand notice sent as man filed ITR with new tax regime but it was processed with old tax regime due to tax consultants error, ITAT Bangalore allows his appeal. Know how Mr Shah won the case.

According to the Sebi mandate, small cap schemes must invest in companies that are ranked below 250 in terms of market capitalisation. These schemes also will have to invest at least 65% in small cap stocks. Small companies go through many ups and downs - more than the established companies in the large and mid cap segments

India's recent fundraising initiative among its diaspora is anticipated to incur significant expenses for the Reserve Bank of India. The unexpected surge in funds from the special deposit program may impose a financial burden, with economists estimating the cost could exceed twelve billion dollars. To counterbalance these expenses, the central bank might resort to foreign investments for financial relief.

In the Indian investment landscape, a stark difference exists between mutual fund distributors who earn commissions and fee-only advisors who charge direct fees. This distinction has left many investors perplexed. Industry professionals have embarked on varying paths, revealing the challenges posed by regulatory complexities and compliance demands. The market is in need of clearer guidelines and supportive regulations to enhance the viability of independent advisory practices.

Anish Tawakley took over as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at DSP Asset Managers in April after a successful stint as co-CIO at ICICI Prudential AMC. With his contrarian credentials fitting well with DSPs investment approach, Tawakley discusses with Sanket Dhanorkar his plans to refine processes, lessons from the past, style diversity, and his outlook on equity and bond markets.

Once a country begins to treat access to its markets, its currency and its financial system as instruments of pressure, then the logic will get applied to more and more cases. The fact is that the US has become addicted to coercion through economic measures and not only will this habit be hard to break, it will expand to more and more areas.

India is currently experiencing a sugar shortage, caused by shorter production yields and increased consumer demand. While government initiatives are in place to stabilise prices, they may not adequately address the root supply problems. Additionally, global conditions, such as Brazil prioritizing ethanol production, keep international sugar costs high. Experts foresee a sustained tight market in the coming seasons, leading to greater profitability for sugar firms.

Non-resident Indians should note that leaving the UK doesn't automatically terminate tax residency. Retaining connections might keep your tax status intact even after relocating. Income and capital gains sourced from the UK could still be liable for UK tax post-departure. Additionally, Indian tax residents are required to report foreign assets and income. Seeking professional advice is essential for a smooth financial adjustment when returning to India.

The contributions of homemakers to household management have substantial economic significance that is now being acknowledged by life insurance policies. By considering family finances and the income of a spouse, insurers are able to offer tailored coverage for homemakers. Notably, the premiums for these term plans rival those for income-earning individuals, highlighting the importance of thoroughly understanding the specifics of life cover, whether individual or joint.

For the longest time, we had a defined benefit plan. Even today, we have around us many retired government and public sector employees (and their widows and dependent children as applicable) earning a lifetime inflation-adjusted monthly pension that is way beyond their contributions during their earning years.

Welcome to TrendMap, your quick guide to the performance of different investment segments. In this edition, we present a 10-year performance tracker of various asset classes. The annual returns are ranked across multiple asset classes, including equity, debt, and precious metals. This map shows that no single asset class reigns supreme. Hence, diversification helps. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Gen Z is not rejecting homeownership. It is becoming more deliberate about the financial equation behind it. For this generation, a sensible purchase is one where the EMI fits comfortably alongside savings, investments and other financial goals.

India's Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has introduced a groundbreaking Public Insurance Registry aimed at streamlining the management of policyholder data. This innovative Digital Public Infrastructure intends to link all parties within the insurance ecosystem, fostering improved operations. Policyholders will enjoy more efficient monitoring of their policies and expedited claims handling, while insurers can utilize standardized data for enhanced risk evaluation

Cutting through money jargon, one topic at a time. This week Abhinav Kaul explains why funds sit on cash, what it costs you, and when it should worry you.

High-frequency data reveals that India's economy is on an upward trajectory, exhibiting robust growth. An executive highlights vibrant vehicle sales and soaring credit demand. Additionally, corporate earnings show positive trends, with notable increases in capital expenditure. However, the nation is still on the path to fully recovering from the effects of COVID, emphasising the necessity for ongoing reforms to achieve sustainable growth and minimise economic gaps.

Highest senior citizen FD interest rates: Small finance banks offer senior citizens the highest fixed deposit rates currently. Equitas, ESAF, and Suryoday Small Finance Banks provide 8.50% interest. Public sector banks like Bank of India offer competitive rates on specific tenures.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund will launch Altiva Equity Long Short Fund on September 10, targeting consistent large-cap alpha through derivatives. The strategy seeks Nifty 100 outperformance, lower drawdowns and steadier returns, while potentially sacrificing some gains during sharp market rallies.

Five midcap mutual funds delivered over 21% annualised returns in three years, led by HSBC Midcap at 25.1%. Invesco India, ICICI Prudential, WhiteOak Capital and Edelweiss Mid Cap also featured among top performers.

Multi-asset allocation funds have outperformed the Nifty over one and three years, helped by strong gold, REIT and InvIT returns. Their diversified portfolios provide flexibility across equities, fixed income, precious metals and alternatives, with Quant, Nippon India, WhiteOak, ABSL and UTI among top three-year performers.

Gold rate today: Consumers are encouraged to verify purity and any additional fees prior to purchasing. The Indian Bullion & Jewellers Association also offers guidance on indicative rates for assorted gold and silver purities.

Carnelian Asset Management has filed documents with Sebi to launch its first liquid mutual fund, targeting short-term investors seeking high liquidity and low-to-moderate risk. The open-ended scheme will invest in debt and money-market instruments maturing within 91 days, expanding Carnelians offerings to retail investors.

SIPs offer disciplined mutual fund investing, with options tailored to different goals, income patterns and market conditions. Regular, top-up, goal-based, step-up, flex, perpetual, trigger and multi-SIPs provide varying levels of flexibility, automation and diversification. Choosing the right type depends on financial goals, cash flow, risk appetite, investment horizon and market knowledge.

The EPFO has now made it possible for users to generate and activate their UAN directly via the UMANG app. This innovative approach incorporates Aadhaar-based facial recognition, streamlining access to essential EPFO services. After activating their UAN, employees can easily check their EPF balance and download passbooks.

Eight flexicap funds delivered consistent five-year performance, with varying risk levels, investment styles and returns. HDFC Flexi Cap led consistency at 91%, while several peers combined strong returns with acceptable or higher risk profiles.