To enhance mutual fund distribution in remote regions, Amfi partnered with the Department of Posts to train one lakh postmen. This collaboration, marked during Amfi's 30th foundation day, aims to deepen financial literacy and broaden the reach of mutual fund products nationwide. Sebi officials and industry leaders attended the event, highlighting the initiative's significance.

I am 46, and own a house. Should I invest in a second property to generate rental income, or should I consider REITs instead?

The central government will disburse August 2025 salaries, wages, and pensions early for its employees and pensioners in Maharashtra and Kerala. Maharashtra employees will receive their payments on August 26, 2025, ahead of Ganapati, while Kerala employees will receive theirs on August 25, 2025, before Onam. These payments are considered advances, subject to adjustment in subsequent salary cycles.

Gold rates are currently trending downwards, sparking interest among buyers ahead of the festive season. While short-term fluctuations are expected, gold remains a reliable long-term hedge against inflation, especially in India, where it holds cultural and religious significance.

Several Indian banks have introduced special 444-day fixed deposit schemes, offering attractive interest rates for general, senior, and super senior citizens. These schemes, like SBI's 'Amrit Vrishti' and Indian Bank's 'Ind Secure Product,' provide competitive returns. Investing Rs 1 lakh in these FDs can yield substantial interest and maturity amounts.

Here are the top 5 stocks held by most mutual funds, as reported by ETWealth.

Sebi's riskometer guides mutual fund investors. It shows a fund's risk level. Risk levels range from low to very high. Investors can align investments with their risk tolerance. The riskometer aids portfolio diversification. It helps set realistic expectations. Fund houses update the riskometer monthly. Changes are communicated to investors. Risk and return are interconnected.

Fitch has kept the U.S. credit rating at AA+. The agency is concerned about rising debt. But the large economy and the dollar's global role support the rating. High deficits and debt are problems. Tariff revenues may help this year. Fitch expects deficits to rise long term. The U.S. rating outlook is stable. S&P Global also maintained its AA+ rating.

Seema S sold property in Patna. She incorrectly claimed Section 54 for LTCG tax exemption. The tax officer rejected her claim. Seema appealed to ITAT Patna. Her lawyer argued about the assessing officer taking advantage of her ignorance. ITAT ruled in Seema's favor. The case was sent back to AO to allow claim for Section 54F. Read more.

Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey cautioned mutual funds about investing in micro-cap companies due to liquidity constraints and volatility. He also addressed concerns about fraudulent redemptions and urged AMCs to enhance cyber resilience and data protection. Sebi is considering incentivizing distributors for investments from first-time investors beyond the top 30 cities to promote financial inclusion.

Saturday bank holiday: Are banks open or closed today on August 23, 2025? However, digital banking services will be available for transactions irrespective bank holiday.

President Trump announced a deal where the U.S. would acquire a 10% stake in Intel, following a meeting with CEO Lip-Bu Tan. This move comes after Trump demanded Tan's resignation over ties to Chinese firms, resulting in a $10 billion investment. The federal backing aims to revive Intel's struggling foundry business amidst turnaround efforts.

Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday cautioned the mutual fund industry that beyond market-linked investment risks, operational risks such as fraudulent redemptions by impersonators pose a growing threat to investor confidence.

Rate-sensitive stocks rallied on Friday after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted that an interest-rate cut could be on the table in September, citing a shifting balance of risks.

Marking its 30th Foundation Day, AMFI announced initiatives to deepen financial literacy, expand investor education through campaigns, trains, and partnerships, strengthen Indias retirement ecosystem, train one lakh postmen, and nurture youth financial awareness via nationwide essay competitions.

Nodding toward significant changes in the economic landscape over the last five years, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday announced an updated operating framework for the U.S. central bank that reflects the return of higher inflation pressures and reduced prospect of near zero short-term interest rates.

Income from online real money games like Dream 11 and Rummy is taxable, necessitating ITR filing. Even small winnings are subject to a 30% tax rate, and TDS is deducted by gaming platforms. Failure to report such income can lead to tax notices and potential prosecution, emphasizing the importance of compliance.

To secure a child's future foreign education, initiating early investments through a step-up SIP is crucial. Starting with a monthly SIP of Rs 20,413 and increasing it by 8% annually over 18 years, targeting 12% returns, can help accumulate Rs 2.41 crore. But if you delay investment by just 3 years, the overall cost may rise by nearly 17%.

The Reserve Bank of India has released details regarding the premature redemption of Sovereign Gold Bond tranches from October 2025 to March 2026. SGBs offer the dual benefit of gold price appreciation and a fixed annual interest of 2.5%, paid semi-annually.

The Karnataka government has announced a 50% rebate (waiver) on pending traffic penalties beginning on August 21, 2025, in an effort to ease the burden on the public and expedite the settlement of pending traffic infraction cases throughout the state.

Seven top flexi cap mutual funds, including Parag Parikh, HDFC, UTI, PGIM India, Aditya Birla Sun Life, SBI, and Canara Robeco, have been shortlisted based on rolling returns, consistency, and risk. Investors with a 57 year horizon can consider these schemes to build wealth over the long term.

Six mutual fund NFOs are open for subscription, including two FoFs, two domestic FoFs, one ETF, and one index fund. Investors can choose from options like gold, multi-asset, and index strategies, with closing dates between August 25 and September 4.

In July 2025, B30 locations contributed 18% of mutual fund assets, rising 3% MoM and 21% YoY. These investors prefer equities (76.55%) over debt. Retail investment dominates B30, with 26.92% direct, while institutional assets concentrate in T30 cities. HNIs favor direct investments, accounting for 28.61% of their holdings.

To finalise online ITR filing, verifying your income tax return is essential. Taxpayers can add and pre-validate their bank account details on the income tax portal to receive a tax refund. Multiple accounts can be validated and nominated for refunds. It's important to keep contact details updated to avoid issues with revalidation.

As numerous new schemes emerge, 35 equity mutual funds in India have marked 25 years. These include ELSS, large and mid-cap, large-cap, flexi-cap, mid-cap, value, contra, multi-cap, and small-cap funds. SBI Long Term Equity Fund, launched in 1993, delivered a 16.36% CAGR, while HDFC ELSS Tax Saver posted the highest at 23.24% since 1996.

Indian stock markets experienced a downturn on Friday, halting a six-day rally. The Sensex and Nifty both declined, influenced by investor caution ahead of Jerome Powell's Jackson Hole speech and concerns over impending U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. Profit-taking after the recent surge and continued selling pressure from foreign institutional investors also contributed to the market's decline.

Finfluencer Avadhut Sathe, known for his unconventional trading lessons, has come under SEBIs scanner after a search-and-seizure operation at his Karjat academy on August 20, as part of the regulators crackdown on unlicensed financial influencers.

Six equity mutual funds posted the highest up capture ratios above 135 in three years, led by Bandhan Small Cap, Invesco mid- and small-cap schemes, JM Value, Bank of India Flexi Cap, and Motilal Oswal ELSS. Others recorded ratios between 12.45134.95.

Consumption-themed mutual funds have shown strong returns, averaging 12.28% in the last six months, with some funds reaching 18%. Proposed GST rate cuts are expected to further boost demand across sectors like FMCG and consumer durables. However, experts advise a balanced approach, suggesting diversified equity funds may offer better long-term exposure compared to these narrow thematic plays.

Mutual fund advisors say banking & PSU debt schemes are relatively safe because these schemes invest only in bonds and papers of banks and public sector companies. Since most of these entities are government-backed, they dont have the credit risk.

FinPal, a software engineer, explained on X how online portals instantly validate credit card numbers using the Luhn Algorithm and apply bank-specific offers through the BIN system. The first digit identifies the card network, while the initial 6-8 digits reveal the issuing bank and card type. RBI guidelines address unsolicited cards, activation criteria, and interest charges on partial payments.

Asian equities showed mixed performance as US stocks and bonds declined, driven by reduced expectations for imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts. Attention is now focused on Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, with markets anticipating potential signals on future policy shifts. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is considering investigating Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

Aikyam Capital has launched the Aikyam India Discovery Fund (AIDF), a GIFT City-domiciled, USD-denominated Category III AIF offering tax-efficient access to Indias equity markets. Targeting NRIs and global investors, AIDF invests in top mutual funds and ETFs with dynamic allocation, delivering transparency, governance, and long-term exposure to Indias growth story.

Mid cap funds delivered up to 28% annualised returns in three years, with Motilal Oswal, Invesco India, HDFC, Nippon India, and Kotak Nifty Midcap 50 ETF leading performance, per ETWealth.