The Economic Times

Sebi has allowed SWP and STP standing instructions for mutual fund units held in demat form, simplifying investing. The rollout will occur in two phases, with unit-based transactions by January 2027 and amount-based transactions by April 2027 through depositories.

A fake Reserve Bank of India letter is misleading people about pending payments. It falsely claims a Rs 1 lakh payment is on hold due to transaction failure. Recipients are asked to pay Rs 7,500 as a refundable tax to release funds. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has flagged this letter as fake. The public is urged not to fall for such fraudulent schemes.

Fresh SIP options in international mutual funds have narrowed sharply, with only Baroda BNP Paribas Aqua FoF accepting new investments after multiple fund houses halted inflows due to SEBIs overseas investment limits. Investors are exploring LRS, GIFT City and global ETFs as alternatives.

AMFI has simplified mutual fund transmission procedures for deceased unit holders. New measures consider address and name mismatches for smoother claims. Asset Management Companies will now rely on updated address details supported by documentation. A harmonized framework for name and signature discrepancies is also introduced. These updated guidelines are effective immediately for all member AMCs.

Mutual funds increased exposure to private banks, healthcare, NBFCs, automobiles and real estate in June, while trimming allocations to technology, oil & gas and utilities, according to a Motilal Oswal report.

ICICI Prudential Flexicap Fund turned a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into Rs 8.47 lakh over five years ending June 30, 2026, delivering an XIRR of 13.83% on a total investment of Rs 6 lakh. During the same period, the BSE 500 TRI generated an XIRR of 10.43%. The fund also reported strong three-year and one-year SIP returns.

The new EPF reforms introduce automatic fund transfers when changing jobs. This facility requires an Aadhaar-linked and KYC-compliant Universal Account Number for members. Employees in private and exempted EPF organizations will not receive this automatic transfer. Members can check their previous work history on the EPFO portal for verification. Several digital reforms aim to simplify claims and improve member services.

Universally known as the Father of Indexing, Bogle had introduced the first indexed fund for individual investors in 1976. So, when it comes to compounding, it wont be wrong to assume that Bogle knew what he was talking about when he said that investors also need to know a crucial detail beyond the magic of compounding.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a slight decrease on Friday, July 17, 2026. Here's a look at the latest 22-carat and 24-carat gold rates across leading jewellery brands such as Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers today.

Despite court order husband did not pay maintenance to wife; she files case to stop his pension on this ground but loses case in Madras HC for this reason. Keep reading to know why the wife lost the case in Madras High Court.

Unity Small Finance Bank has revised its fixed deposit interest rates. Senior citizens can now earn up to 8.50% on a 501-day fixed deposit. Regular customers will receive 8.00% interest on the same tenure. The bank also offers 7% interest on savings accounts for larger deposits. A 1.00% penalty applies for premature fixed deposit withdrawals.

When Mr Rawat from Doonga Bazaar, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh came to Noida, Uttar Pradesh to study B.Tech at IILM University, Greater Noida, for the first semester on August 17, 2023, he booked a hostel in Knowledge Park-III. Within one week of his stay, Rawat faced severe deficiencies. The food provided was sub-standard, maintenance was neglected and the promised Wi-Fi facility/password was never shared.

Diversification on paper does not always translate into diversification in practice. Inside AlphaGreps multi-asset allocation fund and its novel proposition, where risks are adjusted in response to shifting market signals.

Government departments must remit employee NPS contributions promptly to PFRDA. Delays in crediting NPS contributions will incur interest charges for employees. This interest will match the Public Provident Fund rate applicable at that time. Officials causing administrative delays face liability for pecuniary losses to the government. Departments must report actions taken regarding these NPS contribution remittance rules.

Shriram AMC has refreshed the investment framework of three hybrid funds, introducing a research-driven, dynamic asset allocation strategy across equity, debt, gold and silver. The move aims to improve diversification, manage risk and support long-term wealth creation across market cycles.

The Income Tax Department has announced the Cost Inflation Index for the upcoming tax year. This index, set at 384, will adjust asset acquisition costs for capital gains. It becomes effective from April 1, 2026, impacting future tax calculations.

Rising inflation has crossed the Reserve Bank of India's target, signaling potential repo rate hikes. Higher inflation and increased credit demand suggest banks might raise fixed deposit interest rates soon. Banks monitor deposit growth and credit demand before adjusting their fixed deposit rates. High yields on government securities and small savings schemes also pressure banks to increase FD rates.

Quant Mid Cap Fund exited Reliance Industries and three other stocks in June while adding BHEL and L&T Technology Services to its portfolio, according to ACE MF data. The fund sold 21.38 lakh RIL shares worth Rs 282 crore and also exited PB Fintech, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Oracle Financial Services Software (OFSS) during the month.

ITAT overturns STCG tax on Gujarat house sale: When Kaminiben from Anand, Gujarat, sold her house for Rs 21.4 lakh in AY 2018-19, which she had originally bought in 2005 for Rs 1.94 lakh, the tax dept issued her tax notices. However, as she was living abroad as an NRI at the time, she could not respond to them.

Gold price today: Gold prices remained a key focus for buyers on July 16, 2026. Checking the latest gold rates across leading jewellers can help you make an informed decision when buying gold. Here's a look at the latest 22-carat gold prices at Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers today.

Five mutual funds exited 11 midcap stocks completely in June, including Tube Investments, Dixon Technologies, PB Fintech, and Kaynes Technology, as AMCs actively reshuffled portfolios, according to Nuvama.

The Reserve Bank of India has set the redemption price for SGB 2019-20 Series-II. Investors can redeem these bonds prematurely starting July 16, 2026. The redemption value is fixed at Rs 14,199 per unit of SGB. This represents a significant return of nearly 319% on the initial investment. Investors will receive this amount excluding the annual interest payments.

Seven equity mutual funds created exceptional long-term wealth, multiplying investors money up to 22.4 times over 20 years, led by Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund, according to FundsIndia.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has filed draft documents with Sebi to launch two new schemes: the JioBlackRock Corporate Bond Fund and the JioBlackRock Nifty 50 ETF. The Corporate Bond Fund will predominantly invest in AA+ and above-rated corporate bonds, while the Nifty 50 ETF will passively track the Nifty 50 Index, expanding the fund house's passive and fixed-income offerings.

A careful, timely, and well-documented filing approach can help employees avoid notices, interest, penalties, and refund delays while ensuring that all eligible deductions and benefits are correctly claimed. The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing due date for salaried individuals is July 31, 2026 if they are not liable for tax audit.

Government support for FCNR(B) deposits until September 2026 has sparked renewed investor interest. Banks are now offering higher interest rates on these foreign currency accounts. Non-Resident Indians can benefit from avoiding Indian currency depreciation risks.

Abakkus Mutual Fund has launched its third equity NFO, the Abakkus Large & Mid Cap Fund. This new fund aims to navigate volatile markets by investing in growth companies and established businesses. The fund employs an in-house MEETS framework for evaluating long-term value creation potential. Experts suggest caution with NFOs due to the absence of a performance track record.

Taxpayers must retain income tax documents for several years after filing returns. Digital copies are generally sufficient, but original physical records are vital for ownership. Documents depend on income sources, including salary, capital gains, and business income. Keeping records helps respond to tax notices and supports future tax calculations.

The CBDTs decision to upload foreign financial information into taxpayers annual information statements may be more than an administrative exercise. Read alongside the Finance Act, 2026, it appears to set the stage for the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme, 2026, and signals a new era of tax transparency.

Bank holiday today: Banks will be closed today, July 16, 2026, in few states today. These closures are to observe the Jagannath Rath Yatra and the Harela festival. The Rath Yatra involves parading deities on large wooden chariots through city streets. Harela is a festival celebrating the monsoon and the agricultural sowing season.

Unlike Gold ETFs, both physical gold and digital gold have longer required holding periods for realizing long-term gains. Additionally, Sovereign Gold Bonds will see changes in capital gains tax exemption starting April 2026. Tax implications for inherited or gifted gold depend on how and when the gold is sold.

Employees Provident Fund Organisation members anticipate receiving 8.25 percent interest today. This interest payment applies to the financial year 2025-2026 for many subscribers. EPFO subscribers can check their updated balances through the UMANG app or SMS. The EPFO member e-Sewa portal also provides access to account details. Interest accrues monthly, ensuring no loss if credit is delayed.

According to the income tax rules, car dealers are required to deduct 1% TCS if the ex-showroom value of the car exceeds Rs 10 lakh. However, do not confuse your total car cost with the ex-showroom price, which is the base retail cost excluding any kind of taxes, accessory charges etc.

Abakkus Mutual Fund has launched the Abakkus Large & Mid Cap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme that will invest predominantly in large-cap and mid-cap companies. The NFO is open until July 29 and aims to generate long-term capital appreciation through a research-driven investment approach.

Seven mutual funds fully exited 14 smallcap stocks in June, including Ramco Systems, Gland Pharma and JM Financial, as fund managers reshuffled portfolios to actively manage investments and rebalance holdings.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme offers farmers income support. Eligible farmers will likely receive the 24th installment in October 2026. Completing eKYC is mandatory for receiving these crucial scheme benefits.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund's equity portfolio was led by banking majors HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank in June, with Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro and Infosys also featuring among its top holdings. The fund house, which managed assets worth Rs 16,614 crore at the end of the month, maintained a diversified portfolio across financials, telecom, technology, industrials and metals, according to Prime Database data.

Home loan interest column for self-occupied house is disabled in ITR utility? Know what to do while ITR filing for AY 2026-2027. The reason for this is under new tax regime, home loan interest tax deduction cannot be claimed but in old tax regime it can be claimed. So check your ITR for tax regime.

Mutual funds invested Rs 50,600 crore in stocks during June. They significantly bought JSWInfra, Bajaj Finance, and HDFC Bank. Conversely, Asian Paints, ICICI Bank, and SBI saw major reductions. In midcaps, JSW Infrastructure and Meesho were key additions by funds. Smallcap segment saw buying in Acme Solar Holdings and Craftsman Auto.

Andhra Pradesh offers a one-time option to switch to the Old Pension Scheme. This applies to employees recruited before September 1, 2004, who joined later. They must meet specific conditions to avail this benefit. This decision aligns with a similar move by the central government in March 2023. Employees not opting will continue under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Gifts from specified relatives are fully exempt from income tax. Non-relative cash gifts exceeding fifty thousand rupees become taxable. Immovable property gifts are taxed based on stamp duty value. Specified movable assets received without consideration are also taxable. Taxpayers must report taxable gifts under 'Income from Other Sources'.