The Economic Times News

Titan Companys strong December-quarter update drove its shares to a fresh record high, significantly boosting Rekha Jhunjhunwalas notional wealth. Robust growth across jewellery, watches, emerging categories and international markets, supported by premiumisation and store expansion, reinforced Titans leadership position and sustained positive investor sentiment.

As geopolitical risks surge, experts highlight why gold ETFs remain the portfolio anchor, offering stability and protection during global shocks. Silver ETFs, though more volatile, can enhance returns when industrial demand strengthens. A thoughtful blend of bothwithin a broader multi-asset strategycan help investors navigate uncertainty with greater resilience.

Investing in small caps is not a childs play. You will have to find successful fund managers who specialise in small cap stocks. You should also pay attention to how the schemes fared during the market downturn.

Homebuyers in 2026 should look beyond interest rates and scrutinize loan agreements for other charges like processing fees, prepayment penalties, and bundled insurance. These costs can significantly inflate your total loan burden. Understanding and negotiating these fees can save you lakhs over your home loan tenure.

The Gujarat High Court quashed a Section 498A case against a husband's parents, citing vague allegations of them provoking their son to inflict torture. The court found no specific actions linked to the in-laws, deeming further proceedings a futile exercise and an abuse of process, thus granting them relief. Know how they won the case.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Chandigarh has ruled that taxpayers can claim the Section 87A tax rebate on long-term capital gains from debt mutual funds. This decision overturns a tax demand of Rs 25,710 for a taxpayer. The tribunal clarified that the restriction on this rebate applies only to equity-oriented gains. Read more.

A viral WhatsApp message falsely claims SBI customers must download an APK to update Aadhaar KYC, warning of YONO app blockage. The PIB Fact Check team has debunked this as a scam, urging users not to download suspicious APKs or share personal information, as SBI never requests such updates via unofficial links.

Mutual funds offer indirect investment in gold and silver through ETFs, fund-of-funds, and multi-asset allocation funds. Investors can utilize SIPs and STPs for systematic investments. Tax implications vary based on holding periods, with long-term gains taxed at 12.5%. A 'buy on dips' strategy and limited portfolio exposure are recommended after recent rallies.

Titan Company's consumer businesses surged 40% year-on-year in Q3FY26, with international and domestic segments growing 79% and 38% respectively. The company expanded its retail network by 56 stores, reaching 3,433. Jewellery sales jumped 41% driven by price increases, while watches and eyecare also saw significant growth.

The Supreme Court ordered a seller to pay Rs 3 crore to a buyer after a 17-year property dispute. The seller failed to convert the leasehold property to freehold, while the buyer was found to have not proven readiness to pay the full amount. The court aimed to prevent unjust enrichment by the seller.

Central government employees typically receive pay commission benefits first, with states often following suit. However, states can form their own commissions, leading to staggered implementation and potentially different payout revisions. While pay structures are similar, states assess fiscal impact, meaning salary and pension hikes may not align perfectly or occur simultaneously with the Centre's announcements.

Rising medical costs are pushing policyholders towards high-sum insured health plans. Super top-up plans offer an affordable way to enhance coverage, acting as an extra layer beyond a base policy. These plans sound great for high coverage at an affordable premium, but read to find out why super top-up plans have lower premiums, their limitations, and more.

Mirae Asset Mutual Fund announced the transition of its Chief Investment Officer Fixed Income, Mahendra Jajoo, and named Basant Bafna to take charge of managing the fixed income portfolio.

Amazon Pay has expanded its services beyond UPI payments to include fixed deposit investments. Users can now invest in FDs with partner NBFCs and banks directly through the Amazon Pay app, with a minimum investment of Rs 1,000 and interest rates up to 8% per annum. Deposits with partner banks are insured up to Rs 5 lakh by DICGC.

An expert outlines key principles for new mutual fund investors in 2026, stressing goal-based planning, disciplined asset allocation and understanding risk appetite. Investors should avoid emotional decisions, herd behaviour and panic selling, focus on long-term objectives, diversify across fund categories, and seek professional advice if market knowledge is limited.

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has clarified city classifications for ECHS beneficiaries, aligning certain urban areas with metropolitan centers for treatment charges. This clarification, following a December 5, 2025 order, aims to resolve confusion regarding rate applicability at empanelled healthcare centers for ECHS beneficiaries residing in satellite towns.

Here's a performance breakup of gold mining funds and international funds based on different economies as reported by ETWealth.

Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund has launched its new Diversified Equity Flexicap Passive Fund of Funds, offering equal exposure to large-, mid-, and small-cap segments through index funds and ETFs. The FoF follows a disciplined quarterly rebalancing framework to help investors navigate shifting market-cap leadership without relying on forecasts.

Radhika Gupta cautions investors against choosing mutual funds based on one-year returns, urging a shift towards rolling return analysis for better long-term decision-making.

Volatile markets have left many senior citizens and new investors facing losses in equities. Experts advise against panic selling, recommending longer investment horizons, portfolio restructuring, and a shift to diversified mutual funds. Gradual, guided investment strategies can help recover losses while managing risk and avoiding aggressive, high-volatility bets.

DSP Mutual Funds latest NETRA report debunks 12 widely held market myths, challenging assumptions around gold, equity returns, GDP growth, fund performance, index targets and SIP timing, and urges investors to rely on data, diversification and valuation discipline.

Digital savings accounts are transforming banking in India. They offer seamless management of money from phones or laptops. Features include real-time transactions, competitive interest rates, and easy withdrawals. Banks like IDFC FIRST Bank provide paperless onboarding and integrated investment options. This modern approach to banking is becoming the future of personal finance.

LIC new product: LIC has launched a new single premium insurance plan, Jeevan Utsav, starting January 12, 2026. Concurrently, a special campaign from January 1 to March 2, 2026, offers policyholders a chance to revive lapsed non-linked and micro insurance plans with significant late fee concessions, aiming to restore crucial insurance coverage.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I plan to redeem my mutual fund units to finance a house purchase in Pune. I also intend to sell a house I own in my village. Can I still claim long-term capital gains tax exemption?

Airline pilots have won a significant legal battle. The Delhi High Court has declared them 'workmen' under labour law. This landmark ruling allows pilots to pursue claims for unpaid salaries, flying incentives, and other dues in labour courts. The court clarified that despite the title 'Captain', pilots' primary role is flying, not management.

Ola Electric shares extended their rally for a fourth consecutive session, rising over 4% to Rs 45.87 on the NSE. The surge is driven by improving operational performance, strong December demand, and the rollout of the Hyperservice program, which boosted service efficiency and market share across major EV states.

The Nifty Alpha Low Volatility 30 Index aims to combine higher return potential with lower volatility, offering investors a balanced equity approach through ETFs or FoFs amid a challenging macro environment.

If you are convinced that mid cap schemes are the best suited for you, here are our recommended mid cap schemes. Please follow our monthly update to find out regularly how your schemes are performing.

SAIL shares are in focus after the state-owned steelmaker posted its best-ever December sales, with volumes rising 37% year-on-year to 2.1 million tonnes, helped by strong domestic demand, higher exports and a supportive policy backdrop.