The Economic Times

The government has raised the wage limit for the Employees' Provident Fund from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 monthly. This adjustment mandates that employees earning under Rs 25,000 join the EPF and EPS schemes. Existing EPS members above this wage threshold will maintain their status, while new entrants wont be obliged to enroll. This reform seeks to enhance social security benefits for workers and their families.

Many financial analysts expect the Reserve Bank of India to increase the repo rate by 25 basis points. This forecast is driven by persistent inflation, soaring crude oil prices, and a depreciating rupee. Should the RBI implement this hike, it could lead to higher fixed deposit returns for investors. Meanwhile, public sector banks continue to offer lower rates, struggling against fierce competition from government securities and small savings schemes.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has filed a draft document with Sebi for JioBlackRock Gold ETF, an open-ended scheme tracking domestic gold prices. The ETF will invest 95-100% in gold and related instruments, with a minimum investment of Rs 500.

The top five value and contra mutual funds held up to 16% cash in August, with DSP Value Fund recording the highest allocation. Fund managers may retain cash to meet redemptions and deploy funds when investment opportunities emerge.

SBI FD interest rate: Investors frequently look to calculate the maturity amounts for their fixed deposit investments with the State Bank of India. Factors such as tenure and current interest rates play significant roles in these calculations.

Wife filed Schedule AL in ITR for first time and got hit with unexplained credit income tax notice for ancestral family jewellery worth Rs 67 lakh; she claimed its ancestral and wins relief in ITAT Mumbai.

8th Pay Commission news: The 8th Pay Commission is set to begin discussions in Bengaluru starting October 7, focusing on employee salaries and related issues. Various government departments are tasked with gathering employee data to aid in compiling a comprehensive report. Early recommendations indicate potential fitment factors that could boost minimum salaries considerably. These suggestions will also influence pension adjustments for government employees.

A 57-year-old investor faces Rs 16 lakh LTCG tax after selling land near Jewar airport. Experts suggest verifying the liability before deciding between property reinvestment or diversified equity investments.

A Rs 10,000 monthly SIP in 12 equity mutual funds grew to more than Rs 10 crore since their respective inceptions, an ETMutualFunds analysis found. Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund topped the list with Rs 27.13 crore, followed by Franklin India Mid Cap Fund at Rs 22.13 crore, highlighting long-term wealth creation.

Gold rate today: Gold prices showed little change at major jewellery brands across multiple cities on October 5, 2026. The indicative rates from the India Bullion and Jewellers Association showed a slight decline in bullion prices.

Variable dearness allowance: The government has announced an increase in Variable Dearness Allowance affecting various sectors including agriculture and construction. This revision will take effect from October 1, 2026, and will adjust minimum wages for workers accordingly.

Nuvama expects NSE to enter the largecap category and SBI Funds Management to become a midcap in AMFIs H1 CY27 reshuffle. Bosch, Siemens Energy India and others may be upgraded, while several largecaps could move down. The revised classification will take effect from February 1, 2027, after H2 CY26 market-cap rankings.

Mr Amirtharaj from Thygarayanagar, got Rs 85.03 lakh cash gifts from his sisters husband, uncle and other relatives, he deposited this cash in his bank account. After this he got an unexplained deposit tax notice. He wins case in ITAT Chennai; Know how.

An online search would mostly take you to some websites with ready-made lists. Most often, the schemes may be shortlisted on the basis of their short-term performance. Sometimes, the schemes from a single category may dominate the list because that category happens to be the flavour of the season.

As Indian IT firms gear up for their Q2 earnings report, the landscape appears mixed. Strong deal activity persists, yet clients are pushing for higher efficiency, leading to a notable decline in revenue growth. Large IT companies may witness their weakest growth in three years, primarily due to acquisitions rather than organic expansion. Infosys is under a microscope for possible downward adjustments to its revenue guidance.

As inflation concerns rise, investors are putting their faith in the Reserve Bank of India to implement an interest rate hike. A survey reveals that nearly 60% of economists believe a 25-basis-point increase is likely at the coming policy meeting. With an eye on foreign investment, expectations are growing for a tightening cycle to kick off in October, setting the stage for how future capital flows will be managed.

The software can analyse thousands of funds and figure out that the three or four you are researching have almost identical portfolios. However, the investors real challenge lies in the middle stage. Choosing a good fund is the easy part because there are actually a lot of good funds and distinguishing the good from the bad is not black magic, nor is it guesswork.

Many travelers fail to account for hidden costs while planning international journeys, often only considering major expenses. These overlooked charges can hike trip costs by 25-40%, creating budget overruns. It's vital to include local transport, dining, and extra fees in your budget to avoid unexpected financial surprises. Employing effective budgeting techniques ensures a smoother and more enjoyable experience abroad.

Rules and caps can change behaviour. Incentives determine whether organisations merely comply with the rules or actually change the behaviour that created the problem. No regulator can adjudicate every commercial decision made by every insurer and distributor.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has announced new proposals to limit commission rates for insurance distributors. This move seeks to tackle high distribution costs, ultimately enhancing the policyholder experience. By implementing reforms aimed at fostering customer-centric practices, the initiative aims to curtail the mis-selling of insurance products. Insurers must align their compensation methods with the value delivered to customers.

The recent adjustment to the Employees' Provident Fund wage ceiling significantly widens eligibility for benefits, raising the contribution limit from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000. This revision aims to enhance social security, but it might pose complexities for pension contributions. Employees should verify the accuracy of their EPS records to prevent issues, as the swift rollout of the new ceiling could lead to unforeseen challenges.

While the higher ceiling does have an impact on immediate net cash take-home of the employee due to increased contribution, it will certainly support building of future corpus for retirement and higher pension by way of contribution to the provident fund and pension scheme.

Recent incidents highlight the increasing threat of compromised WhatsApp accounts among financial advisers in India. These attacks exploit trust, as fraudsters impersonate advisers through hacked accounts. Financial firms have implemented strict new security measures to mitigate future attacks and protect client information. Advisers urge their clients to adopt safer communication practices when handling sensitive financial information. Staying vigilant and verifying communications can prevent p

Investor enthusiasm around the sector is visible in the performance of nine EMS stocks covered by multiple brokerages. The group has delivered an equal weighted average return of 55.3% so far in 2026, compared with 1.1% for the Nifty 500 Equal Weighted Index. Seven of the nine stocks have delivered posi tive returns, while three have gained over 100%. The analysis is based on closing prices as of 28 September 2026.

Cover the risks between your old payslip and the new one, says Devashish Chakravarty. Read the print on your offer before you re sign. Routine conditions are fine, such as background verification, document checks and reference calls. Speed them up. Watch out for clauses that can delay or withdraw the offer, like a joining date to be confirmed, or a role tied to a client contract, or a probation that is extendable.

Bala had saved 2,000 for headphones. He spotted a pair at 40% off, but the prompt, Only 2 left! and Add 500 more for FREE shipping! nudged him into adding a phone cover and a notebook. He ended up spending more than he had planned. During festive sales, around Dussehra and Diwali, such offers can push us to buy faster, spend more or buy things we dont really need.

In this edition, we present a 10-year performance tracker of various domestic market sectors. The annual returns are ranked for 9 key NSE Sector indices. Metals lead 10-year sector gains; Real Estate, Energy follow. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Working Indians across generations are increasingly proactive towards retirement planning, even as most believe they are not adequatelyeither financially, physically or emotionally prepared for their twilight years, the latest edition of an annual study by Axis Max Life Insurance shows. 1 in 2 respondents think they should start plan ning for retirement from their 1st pay cheque.

Cutting through money jargon, one topic at a time. This week, Sanket Dhanorkar explains why yields on US Treasury bonds matter, and what it means for Indian investors. Rising US bond yields mean investors are demanding a higher return to buy and hold that debt. This reflects concerns over the weak fiscal position of the US and the inflationary impact from steep oil prices.

Equity mutual funds delivered up to 5% returns last week, with international schemes dominating the gainers. Only 49 of 626 funds posted positive returns, while losses reached 3.8%.

Three passive mutual fund NFOs from JioBlackRock, Kotak and HDFC will open for subscription on October 5 and close on October 19. Here are their investment categories, minimum application amounts and other key details.

Smallcap mutual funds delivered mixed returns over the past two years. Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund emerged as the top performer, while Tata Small Cap Fund was the biggest laggard.

Debt funds whose returns are more than a conventional fixed deposit instrument.

Tenant can't claim protection from eviction without first proving signing of an unregistered rent agreement with the property owner's brother, rules Madras HC. In this case the property owner's brother allegedly signed the rent agreement but this aspect could not be proved by the tenant.

Mutual fund investors lost upto 10% in September with the benchmark index - Nifty 50 down 5.56% in the same period.

Rs 1.42 lakh outstanding maintenance dues: Housing society calls resident a defaulter, Maharashtra State Co-Operative Appellate Court protects him from being labelled defaulter; Know why

In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Finance reaffirmed the Sukanya Samriddhi Account interest rate at 8.2%. The next evaluation of small savings scheme rates is set for the December 2026 quarter. To initiate a Sukanya Samriddhi Account for a girl child, a minimum deposit of Rs 250 is required. The account matures after 21 years and permits partial withdrawals for education post age 18.

Gold rate tpday: Today, gold prices have shifted downwards among various prominent jewellers, with Tanishq holding steady at its previous rate. As of October 3, 2026, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers listed their 22k gold price at Rs 13,675 per gram, while Tanishq's price remains unchanged at Rs 13,820 per gram. This update is vital for potential buyers considering gold investments.