The Economic Times

Young Indians, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are increasingly opting for app-based credit over traditional banks. Driven by a need for speed, convenience, and flexibility, instant loan apps offer quick approvals and minimal paperwork. This digital shift is reshaping how young consumers access funds for various needs, marking a significant evolution in India's lending landscape.

New income tax rules for 2025 significantly boost child education and hostel allowances, increasing them to Rs 3,000 and Rs 9,000 per month per child, respectively. However, these enhanced tax benefits are exclusively available to taxpayers under the old tax regime, not the new one.

Silver prices experienced significant fluctuations this week, driven by geopolitical tensions and anticipation of US Fed rate cuts. While MCX rates saw an overall increase from March 23rd to 27th, a notable decline was observed on Thursday. IBJA also reported sharp movements in 999 purity silver prices.

The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana offers a pension option for unorganised sector workers aged 18-40 with monthly incomes below Rs 15,000. Subscribers contribute small monthly amounts until age 60 to receive a minimum pension of Rs 3,000, with a family pension for spouses. Enrolment is through Common Service Centres.

Taxpayers face a critical March 31, 2026 deadline for numerous income tax and GST filings. Missing these dates can lead to lost benefits and incur penalties. Key actions include filing ITR-U if needed, optimizing capital gains, and reviewing depreciation. For GST, businesses must reconcile returns, review input tax credit, and file LUT for exports. E-invoicing compliance also requires attention.

Individuals can now file an updated Income Tax Return (ITR-U) to correct past errors, including unreported income or incorrect tax rates. This facility, extended to four years from April 2025, requires paying additional tax and interest. The deadline for FY 2020-21 is March 31, 2026, with penalties increasing based on the filing duration.

Indian Railways has revised ticket cancellation refund rules, effective April 1 and April 15, 2026, to address last-minute cancellations and agent manipulation. The maximum refund window has been extended to 72 hours before departure, while the no-refund window now starts 8 hours prior. Deduction slabs for partial refunds have also been adjusted.

Plot prices in Jewar have doubled to Rs 9,600 PSF since 2020. Apartment prices also rose significantly. The upcoming Noida International Airport is driving this real estate boom. Experts predict continued growth in property values over the next two years. Different zones along the Yamuna Expressway are expected to see varied housing demand based on economic activity.

ICICI Prudential Thematic Advantage Fund (FOF) will be reclassified as ICICI Prudential Aggressive Hybrid Active FOF from April 1, 2026. This change aligns with SEBI's new framework for Fund of Fund schemes. The fund will now invest predominantly in active mutual fund schemes, aiming for enhanced performance across market cycles.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a decline across major Indian jewellery chains and IBJA on March 27, 2026. Experts attribute potential future volatility to geopolitical tensions, sanctions, currency shifts, and US Fed interest rates, suggesting prices may remain range-bound until interest rate certainty emerges.

Sebi has proposed a new Gift PPI framework that will allow investors to gift prepaid instruments that can be used exclusively to buy mutual fund units. The move aims to boost financial inclusion, attract first-time investors, and encourage a shift from gifting consumption to gifting investmentsthough strict limits and compliance norms apply.

Actress Madhuri Dixit has leased a commercial unit in Mumbai's One Lodha Place for five years, starting at Rs 4.25 lakh per month. The rent will increase by 5% annually, totaling Rs 2.81 crore over the lease term. This move highlights Lower Parel's status as a prime commercial and residential hub.

Taxpayers filing returns in 2026 will use the old Income Tax Act, 1961. The new Income-tax Act, 2025, takes effect from April 1, 2026, for income earned in FY 2026-27. The new law simplifies tax codes and modernizes compliance. An online tool helps compare old and new provisions. The Income Tax Department aims for a clearer, more accessible tax system.

Wealth First Portfolio Managers has secured approval from Sebi to begin mutual fund operations. The new entity, Lakshya Asset Management Company, will be headquartered in Ahmedabad. Lakshya AMC aims to introduce innovative investment products. Key members from Benchmark Asset Management, pioneers of ETFs in India, have joined the Lakshya AMC team.

Mumbai property owners rejoice as the tedious process of property mutation is now entirely online. Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the digital system, linked to the Mahabhoomi app, eliminating the need for visits to collector or tehsildar offices. This move promises efficiency, transparency, and faster updates for ownership records, simplifying transactions and reducing potential disputes for all Mumbaikars.

Equity mutual funds have seen declines following a Nifty fall. Experts suggest a staggered approach for lump sum investments, deploying about 30% now and spreading the rest. Investors can also use liquid schemes for daily or weekly Systematic Transfer Plans. Loss-making thematic or sectoral funds may need trimming.

I am a retiree with a corpus of Rs 15 lakh in a mutual fund, earmarked for my daughter in Class 10. If I start a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), will the withdrawals be taxable? How much can I redeem without attracting tax?

Equity mutual funds experienced significant losses in FY26, with SIP investments declining by up to 48%. Domestic funds largely ended in the red, while international funds showed stronger performance. Technology and small-cap funds were among the biggest losers. Experts advise a diversified approach for FY27, focusing on broader international and Indian funds for SIPs.

Gilt funds are debt mutual funds that invest in government-securities or G-secs. As per Sebi norms, these schemes must invest 80% of their corpus in government securities. As you see, these schemes invest in government papers or they lend to the government. Therefore, they dont have any credit risk or they face zero defaults. However, they are extremely sensitive to interest rate changes.

Gold and silver ETFs fell up to 5% despite a recovery in MCX prices, driven by a weaker dollar and easing geopolitical tensions. Experts attribute the recent decline to higher yields and profit booking, but suggest SIP-based investing to capitalise on dips, citing strong medium-term fundamentals for precious metals.

Goldman Sachs has identified seven quality stocks with stable earnings and strong balance sheets that appear attractively priced. These selections are within the brokerage's preferred sectors. However, Goldman Sachs has adopted a cautious stance on Indian equities overall, downgrading its market view.

Global stock markets, including Dalal Street, experienced sharp downturns in March due to the Iran-US war and soaring oil prices. Ten stocks, including BPCL and IDBI Bank, have seen significant drops, with some falling up to 54% as geopolitical tensions impact various sectors.

Stock Market Crash: Stock markets fell sharply on Friday, with the Sensex and Nifty declining significantly. The Indian rupee also hit a fresh record low against the US dollar. These movements were primarily driven by fading hopes for a de-escalation in the Iran-US conflict and continued FPI outflows.

Oil marketing company shares are in focus after the government reduced excise duty on petrol and scrapped it on diesel. This move follows a surge in global crude oil prices and a price hike by private retailer Nayara Energy. Brokerages, however, remain cautious, citing potential margin pressures and elevated oil prices.

Tata Motors PV share price fell 3% on Friday. Production at its luxury unit, Jaguar Land Rover, might be impacted. The Solihull plant faced a temporary shutdown due to supplier issues. This follows a prior cyberattack that disrupted JLR's operations and finances. The company's stock has seen a decline recently. Investors are watching these developments closely.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) shares declined 2% after the company disclosed an income tax demand order of Rs 7,100 crore for FY21-22. The demand includes Rs 6,147 crore in tax and Rs 953 crore in interest, stemming from various alleged violations. LIC stated the order is appealable and will not materially impact operations.

Indian equity investors faced losses while international funds delivered triple-digit returns in FY26, driven by global tech growth and commodity price surges. While domestic schemes struggled, international investments showcased the benefits of global diversification, though experts advise against chasing past performance and advocate for a balanced portfolio allocation.

Mankind Pharma share price surged 2% after Morgan Stanley initiated coverage with an 'Overweight' rating and a Rs 2,500 target price, citing strong growth potential. The brokerage anticipates robust revenue and EPS growth driven by domestic business recovery and the BSV segment, favoring Mankind Pharma for its favorable risk-reward profile.

Eight Nifty 500 stocks that gained over 5% on March 25 appeared in the RSI Trending Up scan. Their RSI moved above the 50 mark from lower levels, signalling strengthening price momentum. Such indicators are often tracked by traders to identify improving sentiment and potential bullish opportunities across select counters in the broader market.

Infosys share price gained over 1% rose after announcing the acquisition of two US-based firms, Optimum Healthcare IT for $465 million and Stratus for $95 million. These all-cash deals aim to bolster Infosys' presence in healthcare and insurance sectors, bringing in over 2,000 professionals and enhancing its digital transformation capabilities.

Five stocks from the Nifty500 universe closed over 1% above their VWAP on March 25, signalling strong intraday accumulation and improving sentiment. A close above VWAP indicates prices strengthened during the session and is often viewed as a short-term bullish signal, suggesting sustained buying interest and potential continuation of upward momentum.

Nemin Shah, director, EQX Business Consultancy Private Ltd, told ET Wealth Online that the government has chosen to codify the exemption for disability pension (including the service element) paid to officers who have been invalided out of Armed Forces in the law itself by introducing an amendment to the Income Tax Act, 2025.