The Economic Times

Mutual funds raised their cash holdings by Rs 7,856 crore to Rs 1.90 lakh crore in July, recovering from a 19-month low in June. PPFAS held the most cash at Rs 25,291 crore, followed by SBI and HDFC Mutual Fund.

Eight new mutual funds are set to open for subscription this week, with five launching on August 17. The NFO lineup spans fund-of-funds, multi-asset, flexi-cap, healthcare, silver ETF and debt categories, with minimum investments ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000.

Mutual funds reduced their exposure to several small-cap stocks in July, with Amara Raja Enterprises witnessing the highest net selling. Welspun Corporation, NBCC, IIFL Finance and Physicswallah were the other major names on the list, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Monthly shareholding changes ranged from a 10.5% decline to an 8.5% increase.

Equity mutual funds delivered returns of up to nearly 6% during August 1015, led by international schemes. Invesco IndiaInvesco Global Consumer Trends FoF topped the list with 5.59%, followed by Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund at 5.49%.

Monarch Mutual Fund has filed draft papers with Sebi for its maiden scheme, an overnight fund investing primarily in one-day securities. The open-ended debt scheme targets low risk, high liquidity and overnight-rate-linked returns, with Sanjay Motta as fund manager.

India-focused offshore funds and ETFs delivered returns of up to 32.7% over three months, outperforming the MSCI India USD Index, which fell 12%. Taishin India led gains, followed by Aditya BSL, SBI Resurgent India Opportunities, AsahiLife Neuberger and Wasatch.

Debt mutual funds attracted Rs 1.87 lakh crore in July, reversing June-quarter outflows. Liquid, overnight and money market funds led inflows, while longer-duration categories saw redemptions. Experts said flows reflected seasonal treasury movements and continued preference for liquidity.

Good news: Save huge tax penalty as CBDT notifies Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers disclosure scheme rules; Know who can use it by December 31, 2026. Know how much tax you need to pay.

Mutual funds invested nearly Rs 9,789 crore across 11 IPOs in July, with INDO-MIM attracting the highest allocation at Rs 3,622 crore, followed by SBI Funds Management and Manipal Health Enterprises, highlighting strong institutional appetite.

UK Renters Act: If the tenancy agreement had an end date, it will no longer apply as fixed term tenancy is not allowed; Know how it impacts landlords and tenants

Fixed Deposit (FD) rate for senior citizens investing for five years. The article has a chart using which you can compare the top banks which is giving such high interest rate on FDs. Also know about when you can prevent TDS deduction from FD using Form 15H (senior citizens only).

A life insurance claim was rejected due to alleged non-disclosure of a prior proposal. The insurer failed to prove the policyholder knowingly concealed this information. The consumer commission ruled that insurers must prove conscious concealment, not just non-disclosure. Tata AIA Life Insurance was ordered to pay the Rs 1 crore death claim. This case highlights the need for insurers to provide evidence of deliberate suppression.

Bank holiday today: Cstomers are advised to check local holiday schedules, as state-specific holidays may further impact branch operations throughout the month. With regional festivals leading to varying closures in different states, it ensures employees can take time off for significant national and local events.

Juhu is one of the top localities in Mumbai by property prices too. The average asking price here is Rs 45,000 per sq. ft. The data further shows that property prices in the Juhu Road micromarket have shown a steady growth over the last year, according to Square Yards data. Rates in the micromarket jumped from Rs 33,100 per sq ft in September 2025 to Rs 35,900 per sq ft by June 2026.

The National Saving Certificate (NSC) is one of the popular small savings schemes among Indians investors with a low-risk appetite as the scheme is backed by the government and offers an attractive interest rate of 7.7%. The NSC scheme is available only to resident citizens of India.

Quant Mid Cap Fund exited Anthem Biosciences and Lenskart Solutions in July, while adding five new stocks including Cochin Shipyard, UPL and IPCA Laboratories. The fund also increased exposure to six stocks, including Adani Energy Solutions and Indus Towers. Its portfolio expanded to 23 stocks, with AUM at Rs 8,106 crore.

Mutual funds completely exited six stocks in July, led by JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals with Rs 6,741 crore worth of shares sold. Other exits included RK Swamy, Reliance Infrastructure, One MobiKwik System, Salzer Electronics and Gayatri Biorganics, according to Prime Databases monthly portfolio data.

Gold rates today: Here is a look at the latest 22k gold jewellery prices at Tanishq, Joyalukkas, Malabar Gold & Diamonds and Kalyan Jewellers, along with India Bullion and Jewellers Associations (IBJA) indicative rates for different gold purities and 999-purity silver.

EPFO member alert: Over the past four years, inoperative Employees Provident Fund accounts have surged by eighty-four percent, with inactive balances witnessing a dramatic increase of one hundred sixteen percent. Furthermore, the average amount in these dormant accounts rose by sixteen percent. This trend indicates that many members are neglecting to file their claims after leaving service. To address this, the government is implementing steps to identify and revive these inactive accounts.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has filed a draft with Sebi for a Balanced Advantage Fund investing dynamically in equity and debt. The scheme will allocate 65-90% to equities and 10-35% to debt. It will offer regular and direct plans, with a Rs 500 minimum investment, and use BlackRocks Aladdin technology for portfolio construction.

Vedanta Aluminium, Hindalco and NALCO fell as aluminium prices retreated after Norsk Hydro resumed Alunorte refinery production, easing supply shortage concerns.

In July, mutual funds increased their allocation to the IT sector to 6.6 per cent, marking a positive shift after an extended period of minimal investment from fund managers. Analysts believe this surge is mainly driven by valuation factors, highlighting a cautious approach from growth investors who are wary of AI's potential effects on IT services. Current SIP investors are encouraged to remain invested, while newcomers should adopt a strategic method.

NRI used money from his NRE bank a/c to buy property for Rs 79 lakh, files no ITR; tax dept sent notice for unexplained cash; he wins case in ITAT Ahmedabad

According to mutual fund managers, investors should invest a maximum of 20% in value funds. They also should remember that the market may not always pay a premium for value stocks.

Employee to get Rs 5 lakh compensation after proving employer terminated him due to pendency of criminal cases; SC order explained. Know how he won.

In July, fund managers recalibrated their blue-chip stock portfolios, focusing on select sectors like IT, automotive, and pharmaceuticals for increased investments. Notably, financial services, particularly non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and private lenders, received a surge in fund inflows. Conversely, stakes in public sector banks such as SBI and Bank of Baroda saw a decline, a strategic choice that underscores a preference for industries with stronger earnings visibility.

Motor insurance is undergoing a transformation! Bajaj General Insurance introduces ProShield, specifically designed for defence personnel to assist with relocation and travel emergencies. Meanwhile, VPAY 2.0 is here to safeguard connected, electric, and hybrid vehicles from cyber threats, breakdowns, and fuel-related challenges. Explore how these innovative policies provide extensive protection that extends well beyond conventional accident coverage.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has unveiled the ICICI Pru iProtect Smart Her, a dedicated term plan tailored for women. This plan features a 15% lifetime discount on premiums, an option for a pregnancy break to enhance financial management, and various health benefits specifically for women.

Credit cards aren't the only way to unlock free airport lounge access. Discover 7 debit cards from ICICI, HDFC, SBI, PNB, IDFC First and Bank of Baroda offering complimentary domestic and international lounge visits, with some having no minimum spend criteria. Check out these 7 debit cards that offer lounge access.

FCNR (B) interest rate: Government backing for FCNR (B) deposits greatly boosts returns for investors. Presently, banks are providing enticing interest rates for foreign currency fixed deposits. These deposit options are particularly advantageous for Non-Resident Indians and Overseas Citizens.