The Economic Times

Delhi High Court has ruled employers need not pay Section 17B salary after an employee retires. This interim judgement clarifies that statutory payments cease upon reaching superannuation age. The court acknowledged employee hardship but upheld legal precedents. The main case challenging the termination is still ongoing. This decision impacts ongoing legal battles for reinstated employees.

High returns and low costs are two key parameters which an investor should look for while investing in a mutual fund. Here are top five funds in the last six months.

Private banks had the highest weightage of around 18.2%. It was the leading sectoral holding for mutual funds in January 2025.

According to the fund house, these funds are retail funds launched by PPFAS Gift which will directly invest all monies into S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 accumulating ETFs and UCITS. Both funds use a passive strategy, giving investors direct exposure to the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 indices without requiring them to open foreign brokerage accounts.

A paced approach, they say, helps investors align choices with goals, time horizons and risk appetite, as reported by ETBureau.

This defence fund sold around 2.53 lakh shares of The Anup Engineering from its portfolio in January worth market value of Rs 56.91 crore. (Source: ACE MF)

Many struggle with monthly finances, feeling broke despite earning. Financial freedom, defined as income and assets covering expenses without a paycheque dependency, is achievable.

Choosing a Will scribe carefully is crucial, especially if they are also a witness. While a close relative can draft a Will, it may lead to increased judicial scrutiny. A scribe can act as a witness if they intend to attest the testator's signature, a point clarified by the Kerala High Court.

A woman successfully claimed capital gains tax exemption on Rs 26 crore from selling shares. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Kolkata ruled in her favour, allowing her claim under Section 54F. She invested the proceeds in constructing a residential property. The tribunal clarified rules regarding joint ownership, property usage, and construction timelines.

SIM swap fraud is a growing cyber threat. Criminals hijack mobile numbers to access bank accounts and sensitive information. This can lead to significant financial loss. Consumers must be aware of the warning signs. Immediate action is crucial if fraud is suspected. Implementing stronger authentication methods beyond SMS is vital for protection.

Securing health insurance for parents, especially seniors, can be costly due to age-related risks and pre-existing conditions. ET Wealth Online presents five strategies to ensure adequate coverage affordably. Read on to find out about the costs of health insurance premiums for senior citizens and discover how to secure enough coverage without breaking the bank.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is proposing to review the base price and price bands for Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Currently, a fixed 20% price band is applied, which Sebi believes doesn't accurately reflect underlying volatility. The regulator aims to address issues with using T-2 day NAV and manual adjustments for corporate actions.

Senior citizens can still secure FD rates up to 7.5% for a ten-year term with select small finance banks, with a maximum investment limit of Rs 3 crore. Banks deduct TDS if FD interest exceeds Rs 1 lakh annually, but eligible senior citizens can submit Form 15H to avoid this deduction.

Saturday bank holiday: Bank customers in India should note closures on several Saturdays in February 2026. Specifically, February 14th is a bank holiday due to it being the second Saturday.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is exploring shifting eight India healthcare assets into a continuation vehicle, targeting $500 million from investors. Investments include Omega Hospitals and RG Scientific, reflecting rising secondary-market activity, according to Jefferies Financial Group data.

Compound interest, hailed by Albert Einstein as the eighth wonder of the world, fuels investment growth by earning interest on both principal and accumulated interest. This powerful force can transform modest savings into substantial wealth over time, as demonstrated by the Public Provident Fund example, where consistent investment leads to exponential growth.

The ranking places Nippon India ETF Gold BeES alongside some of the worlds largest and most established gold ETFs from the United States, China, and Europe, underlining Indias growing prominence in global gold investment flows.

Radhika Gupta cautions investors against chasing one-year past returns, calling it harmful to long-term wealth creation. She highlights how short-term performance rankings often mislead investors and fuel unrealistic expectations. Instead, she urges evaluating mutual funds through consistency and rolling returns over longer periods.

Delhi is set to introduce an AI-powered Integrated Traffic Management System. This system will feature smart traffic lights and automatic number plate recognition cameras. These cameras will detect traffic violations and generate automated challans. The initiative aims to improve traffic flow, reduce pollution, and enhance the commuter experience in the city.

Mutual funds marginally reduced cash holdings in January while overall equity assets showed mixed movement. Cash as a proportion of assets inched higher, reflecting cautious positioning. A handful of large fund houses continued to hold significant liquidity, while many smaller AMCs remained largely invested, awaiting clearer market opportunities.

Many taxpayers have recently received their income tax refunds. This follows a period where large refunds experienced delays. Tax experts confirm a surge in refund issuances. The Income Tax Department's data shows substantial refund amounts processed. Government officials explained that data analytics campaigns caused some processing delays.

Eight equity mutual funds recorded outflows exceeding Rs 1,500 crore in January, with broader industry trends showing 554 out of 716 schemes witnessing redemptions. Small and midcap funds led the decline, with significant AUM erosion across key schemes including Nippon India, Quant, SBI, and Kotak Mutual Fund offerings.

Indian small savings schemes provide safe, government-backed returns. However, their tax implications vary greatly. Understanding how your money is taxed at investment, growth, and withdrawal stages is crucial. Choosing the right scheme depends on your tax situation and financial goals.

Delhi motorists can find relief from traffic challans at the upcoming Lok Adalat on February 14, 2026. This event provides a chance to significantly reduce penalties on compoundable challans. Many pending cases can be settled for a fraction of the original amount. This initiative aims to clear a large backlog of traffic violations.

Discover how to calculate a stock's true worth and avoid costly mistakes. Learn the difference between price and value, why valuation protects your capital, and which methods suit different stock types.

Value investors buy such stocks and wait for the market to discover these stocks. When the discovery happens, the stock prices will go up, and value investors make money. It may sound simple. But it is not very easy to execute. The market may take very long to discover these stocks and it may test your patience. The discovery may not happen at all. That is why value mutual funds are recommended to only sophisticated investors.

HDFC Flexi Cap Fund has achieved a significant milestone, crossing Rs 1 lakh crore in assets under management, making it the third fund to reach this mark. This achievement underscores investor confidence, consistent performance across market cycles, and a disciplined investment strategy. The fund's flexible, research-driven approach allows dynamic allocation, focusing on long-term wealth creation.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2019-20 Series-III, allowing investors to redeem from February 13, 2026. The redemption value is based on the simple average closing price of gold for the preceding three working days.

Gold and silver ETFs fells sharply on Froday as stronger U.S. dollar and robust jobs data erased hopes of early rate cuts. Silver funds, including Kotak Silver ETF and peers, saw the steepest declines, while gold ETFs such as Tata Gold ETF also slipped. Experts advise SIPs and caution amid heightened volatility.

Arbitrage funds saw a massive 2,507% inflow surge in January, driven by volatility and tax efficiency. However, the Union Budget 2026's increased STT on F&O trades and tax changes are expected to slightly reduce returns and moderate future inflows, though they may remain attractive for high-income investors.

Brothers lost their ancestral farm land claim in the Chhattisgarh High Court. Their great grandfather's 1958 Will was deemed unproved. The court ruled that a 30-year-old Will does not automatically gain validity. Witnesses were not properly examined. The uncle's ownership claim was upheld. This decision ends a long family land dispute.

Mutual funds increased their exposure to financial stocks in January, acquiring both banking and insurance shares. This strategic shift saw buying interest in major lenders like Axis Bank and ICICI Bank, alongside selective investments in small finance banks. The move comes as private bank valuations are perceived as attractive compared to other sectors.

The Reserve Bank of India is introducing stricter loan recovery rules for banks, focusing on borrower protection and transparency. These new directions, set to take effect from July 1, 2026, aim to prevent harassment and ensure fair treatment during the recovery process. Banks must implement mandatory recovery policies and adhere to a code of conduct for recovery agents.

The Supreme Court strongly criticized the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, RERA. Judges suggested abolishing the institution, stating it only helps defaulting builders. The court allowed Himachal Pradesh to shift its RERA office to Dharamshala. This decision is subject to a pending High Court case. The court noted people are disappointed with RERA's performance.

Unique stocks are equities held by only one mutual fund house and not others. In January, about 240 such stocks were identified above Rs 100 crore market value. Top exclusive holdings included Marathon Nextgen Realty, Premier Explosives, Network People Services Technologies and Vintage Coffee & Beverages.

After a strong run-up over the past year, gold and silver have seen frequent and sharp price fluctuations in recent months.

Debt mutual funds saw a sharp turnaround in January, posting net inflows after two months of heavy outflows. Experts attribute the reversal to post-year-end cash redeployment, improved comfort around yields and liquidity, and a continued investor preference for liquid, low-volatility fixed-income categories over duration-led strategies.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed claims regarding Goods and Services Tax in Lok Sabha. She clarified that milk has always been exempt from GST. Educational supplies like books and notebooks also have zero GST. Healthcare services have maintained a 0% GST rate since 2017. Funeral services were never subject to GST.

Salaried employees stand to gain significantly from proposed tax rule changes. Under draft Income Tax Rules, 2026, the annual tax exemption for meal vouchers like Pluxee or Sodexo could rise to Rs 1,05,600. This is a substantial increase from the current Rs 26,400 limit. The new rules propose a Rs 200 per meal cap, potentially boosting employee savings.

With gold prices rising, consumers are increasingly exchanging old jewellery for hallmarked pieces to ensure purity and better resale value. Mandatory hallmarking in India, regulated by BIS, certifies gold's karat and fineness, reducing fraud risk and enabling fair valuation. Buyers should verify BIS logo, HUID, and purity marks for authenticity.

PPFAS Mutual Fund has raised caution over the sharp growth in the margin trading facility book, which has jumped from Rs 24,920 crore in FY23 to Rs 1.16 lakh crore by December 2025. The fund house highlights rising liquidity and credit risks, especially among smaller brokers dependent on costlier funding sources.