The Economic Times

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 113th part of this series, Riju Mehta explains how this fund raising option works.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) remains steadfast in its support for the newly implemented closing auction system. Despite initial trading fluctuations shaking investor confidence, the initiative is designed to enhance price discovery while aligning with international standards. However, a decrease in participation from proprietary traders has resulted in reduced liquidity. Sebi advocates for technology enhancements and a boost in order flows to ensure the system's effectivenes

Welcome to TrendMap, your quick guide to investment performance. This edition tracks 10 years of global equity returns. Currency fluctuations impact the returns on foreign investments. To capture the real value from an Indian investors standpoint, these returns are adjusted to reflect their equivalent in Indian rupees. The key takeaway: no market dominates, diversification is important. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Financial action is moving faster than financial preparedness among employees, with many investing, exploring new opportunities, and thinking about long-term goals, but still seeking clarity on fundamentals. A survey by financial education firm Finsafe sheds light on this paradox and the role employers can play.

Financial freedom isnt about buying everything you want. Its the ability to say yes to the opportunities that matter most. Those choices evolve as you grow. For teenagers, it could mean pursuing a hobby because you love itnot because its the cheapest optionor turning a skill into a side hustle by funding your own supplies or instruments, or supporting a cause you care about without relying on your parents for money.

Global investing is no longer just for the affluent in India. Individuals now have the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolios across various economies and currencies, leading to notable benefits. Aggressive investors should consider allocating around twenty to twenty-five percent of their portfolio internationally. However, concentrated thematic funds can be risky due to high valuations, while passive index funds present a straightforward and affordable way to engage in global mark

Dr S. Prakash, CEO, Health Insurance Ecosystem & Strategic Partnerships, General Insurance Council, speaks to Preeti Kulkarni on policyholders complaints around claim rejections, spike in renewal premiums and the industrys push for greater standardisation in treatment protocols and billing practices.

The objective of life insurance is to provide a replacement income to the dependents of the deceased employee. That is why it is important to link the GTL cover to an employees annual salary. Employers who link the sum assured to CTC generally use a multiple of 2.

A prolonged consolidation in Indian equities has tested investors patience. But Bajaj Asset Managements Managing Director Ganesh Mohan tells Sameer Bhardwaj that this is precisely when disciplined investors should stay the course.

Introduced in 2013, direct mutual fund plans present a cost-effective alternative for investors, accounting for thirty percent of total assets under management. However, it has been observed that those who opt for direct plans tend to exit their investments earlier than those in regular plans. Despite the mathematical advantage of direct plans, behavioral trends reveal a notable gap in performance.

Vamsi Ayyagari and Gajendra Sharma are among professionals who are leaving corporate jobs to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. They focus on creating financial buffers while ensuring robust emergency funds and sufficient insurance coverage before making significant career changes. A solid retirement fund is similarly prioritized to support them during these new ventures, with careful planning reducing the risks of stepping away from stable employment.

Generation Z places a strong emphasis on balancing experiences and career adaptability while ensuring financial security. This generation is becoming increasingly knowledgeable about their financial objectives and is unafraid to express their needs. With a focus on early investment and varied financial opportunities, Gen Z effectively navigates modern economic challenges through credit products, and they seek clarity in career guidance from employers right from the start.

Modern Indians are redefining investment strategies; rather than saving first, the youth now prioritize their financial goals before choosing investment products. This evolution signifies a desire for financial independence, allowing individuals the liberty to make choices unburdened by financial strain. The advent of technology and improving accessibility to investment options has significantly enhanced wealth accumulation opportunities, indicating a broader trend of increasing incomes across t

Five smallcap mutual funds delivered up to 26% annualised returns over three years as of July 29, 2026, according to ETWealth data. Bandhan Small Cap Fund led the pack with 25.8% CAGR, followed by ITI, Invesco, Bank of India, and Mahindra Manulife, while older category peers trailed behind.

In this edition of Know Your Fund Manager, Rajasa K., Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Templeton Global Investments, shares her career journey from equity research to managing hybrid and equity schemes. She discusses her GARP-focused investment philosophy, risk assessment framework, and the responsibility of managing retail investors' money.

Nine new mutual funds and two Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) are opening for subscription this week starting August 10. Offers include schemes from Aditya Birla Sun Life, SBI Mutual Fund, UTI, Bandhan, Zerodha, and WhiteOak Capital, catering to equity, arbitrage, hybrid, liquid, and ETF investment preferences.

Nine equity mutual funds delivered over 10% returns during August 3-7, 2026, led by technology sector funds like SBI Technology Opportunities and Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund. Auto and commodity-focused funds also featured in the top gainers list among 611 schemes evaluated by ACE MF.

Unclaimed mutual fund dividends rose 15.7 percent to Rs 2,689 crore in 2025-26. Unclaimed redemption proceeds saw a slight decline of 0.5 percent during the same period. Combined unclaimed amounts in mutual funds reached Rs 3,811 crore by March 31, 2026. SEBI enhanced measures to help investors and nominees access their unclaimed holdings. Initiatives like DigiLocker integration and Niveshak Shivirs aim to reduce unclaimed assets.

For selling 600ml Pepsi at Rs 26 instead of Rs 25 MRP, husband working in wifes shop faced criminal prosecution; Bombay HC quashes case as wife made the sale, while husband had only prepared the bill after the sale. Know how he won case in Bombay High Court

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana provides a favorable tax regime for parents budgeting for their daughters. Only resident Indian girls aged below ten qualify to open these accounts. The investment period spans fifteen years, with the account lasting twenty-one years.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund has suspended existing SIP and STP subscriptions in seven schemes from August 11, 2026, citing limited overseas investment headroom. Six affected funds are international schemes, while one is thematic. The suspension will continue until additional overseas investment capacity becomes available, with resumption subject to AMC discretion.

Quant Small Cap Fund added 13 stocks in July, including SBI Funds Management, Caliber Mining and Hexaware Technologies. The fund exited four stocks and reduced exposure to seven others, while increasing holdings in 10 stocks. Its portfolio rose to 106 stocks from 97 in June, with AUM at Rs 34,069 crore as of July 31.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund has launched Indias first REIT-focused index fund, offering exposure to listed REITs and real estate companies through a single investment. The fund tracks the Nifty REITs & Realty Index, with a 60:40 REIT-to-realty allocation, targeting long-term investors seeking diversified real estate exposure.

Five equity mutual funds delivered over 20% annualised SIP returns over the past decade. Quant Small Cap led with 24.2%, followed by Nippon India Small Cap, Invesco India Mid Cap, Quant ELSS Tax Saver and Nippon India Growth Mid Cap. Investors should consider risk, goals and investment horizon beyond past performance.

Gold rate today: On Saturday, August 8, 2026, gold prices saw a notable increase. If you are planning to buy gold jewellery, here is a look at the latest 22K gold rates today at Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and IBJA.

Choosing a mutual fund requires more than examining past returns. Investors should assess risk-adjusted performance using metrics such as Alpha, Beta, Sharpe, Treynor, Information and Sortino ratios, along with standard deviation, semi-standard deviation and R-squared. These measures help compare funds, understand volatility, evaluate manager performance and determine suitability for individual investment goals.

ETMutualFunds has shortlisted 10 equity mutual funds across five categories based on rolling returns, consistency, downside risk, outperformance and asset size for August.

PPFAS Mutual Fund CIO Rajeev Thakkar said the recent underperformance of Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund is neither unusual nor significant. He defended its long-term strategy, lower cash allocation, and private-bank exposure, including HDFC Bank. Thakkar said market volatility creates opportunities, while the fund avoids popular themes and sees potential in IT services amid AI disruption.

Filing your income tax returns punctually doesn't guarantee immunity from tax department notices. Often, discrepancies arise between reported earnings and the data the department holds. Additional sources of income, misreported TDS or TCS credits, and large cash transactions lacking corresponding declared income can trigger further scrutiny.

Bank customers are advised to stay informed about upcoming holiday schedules that could impact banking operations. National and religious holidays dictate bank closures, which differ across states.

Due to incorrect schedule in original ITR gratuity tax deduction under Section 43B denied; ITAT Chennai gives relief and says a genuine deduction cannot be denied merely because it was reported under an incorrect schedule in the ITR

In a strategic move, HDFC Bank has reduced its MCLR rates across various tenures by as much as five basis points, effective from August 7, 2026. The updated MCLR now varies between 8% and 8.65%, tailored to the specific loan duration.

8th pay commission update: The 8th Pay Commission is actively engaging with various stakeholders to gather insights on salary and pension adjustments. Employees are hopeful for a timely report that could significantly alter their compensation. Projections suggest that gross pay increases may vary from 31% to 68%, relying on different fitment factors, particularly for employees at Levels 7 and 8. Multiple employee organizations have presented their fitment factor recommendations to the commission

Unclaimed mutual fund assets rose nearly 10% to Rs 3,811 crore in FY26, led by higher unclaimed dividends, Sebi said. Despite this, mutual fund assets, SIP contributions and investor participation expanded strongly, reflecting sustained retail interest and industry growth.

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are prohibited from making new investments in RBI floating rate savings bonds; however, those who are existing holders may maintain their investments. The bonds offer an attractive interest rate of 8.05%, bolstered by government guarantees.

Multi-asset funds are gaining popularity by diversifying across equity, debt, precious metals and other assets. Strong gold and silver gains boosted one-year returns, while active allocation and tax treatment vary by equity exposure.

Homebuyersgot no compensation for more than 2-year delay in possession of flat, MahaRERAorder; Know how accepting possession without protest cost them the delaycompensation. Know why homebuyers lost this case.

Sunil Singhania-backed Abakkus Small Cap Fund added Indo-MIM, Mrs Bectors Food Specialities and BEML to its portfolio in July while exiting Bank of Baroda and Cyient DLM. The fund also increased its exposure to HDFC Bank and 55 other stocks, according to its latest monthly portfolio disclosure.

EPS higher pension: The government has acknowledged the Madras High Court's decision on higher pension benefits. Supreme Court orders regarding higher pension contributions have also been examined. An online facility was provided for EPS subscribers opting for higher pension. This higher pension judgment has been implemented uniformly for all establishments. Employees can now contribute based on actual basic salary for increased pension.

There is no easy or one word answer to this question. The expenses anywhere would depend majorly on the city an individual is living in and their lifestyle. At the same time, it is equally important to factor in the average salaries that people receive. We have done an analysis of the same. Read on to know.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced new guidelines for loan recovery starting in January 2027. These regulations require that banks properly train recovery agents while ensuring they adhere to professional standards during the process. Borrowers will receive notifications regarding the recovery agents assigned to them, and all communications will need to be recorded.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the redemption price for the SGB 2020-21 Series-XI, set at Rs 14,564 per unit. Investors seeking to redeem their bonds beforehand can do so starting August 7, 2026, after a five-year term.

Resident ordered by housing society to evict on grounds of maintenance default, creation of nuisance and using open space as his garden; Maharashtra Co-Op Appellate court cancels eviction and rules resident cannot be evicted by housing society for this reason. Know more.

GOld rate today: Gold prices saw a slight decrease today, August 7, 2026. Leading jewellery brands like Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds adjusted their rates. Tanishq maintained its 22-karat gold price while others saw a small reduction. IBJA indicative rates for August 6, 2026, show higher prices for various gold purities. Silver prices also remained steady as per the latest updates.

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.

The BSE Sensex has declined nearly eight percent, prompting investors to consider increasing mutual fund SIP contributions. Market experts suggest this correction is normal and investors should continue SIPs without interruption. Lower markets allow for the accumulation of more units over the long term. Investors should review their portfolios and rebalance asset allocation if needed. Monitoring crude oil prices and global policies will guide future market direction.