The Economic Times News

Many equity mutual funds experienced significant losses in 2025. Over a dozen funds saw declines exceeding 10%. This performance shift highlights the need for strategic investment decisions. Investors are now considering where to focus their capital in the upcoming year. Experts suggest a move towards quality large-cap funds and diversified options for better outcomes.

Conservative hybrid mutual funds are similar to erstwhile monthly income plans or MIPs. MIPs were extremely popular at one point. They used to invest a small part of their portfolio in stocks. But their USP, as the name suggests, was regular income in the form of dividends. However, regular dividends stopped when the market got into a bad phase. That was the end of MIPs. The lesson: do not bank on hybrid funds to secure a regular income.

A mother can claim maintenance from her son even if her husband is alive and provides support. The Kerala High Court upheld a Rs 5,000 monthly maintenance order for a 60-year-old mother. The court stated a son cannot avoid his duty to care for elderly parents due to his own family obligations.

Sebi has overhauled mutual fund expense rules by introducing a Base Expense Ratio, separating statutory levies, lowering expense and brokerage caps, and simplifying disclosures to improve cost transparency, discipline and investor protection, without necessarily cutting total costs sharply

India's insurance watchdog, IRDAI, has fined Care Health Insurance Rs 1 crore. The penalty stems from serious lapses in how the company handled insurance claims. These issues violated policyholder rights and corporate governance. IRDAI also issued warnings for other failures, including cybersecurity and accounting practices.

Borrowers can now cheer as major banks like SBI, PNB, and Canara Bank have lowered lending rates. This follows the RBI's recent repo rate reduction. These cuts mean lower EMIs for many customers. Banks including Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Bank of India, and Bank of Maharashtra have also announced rate reductions on various loans.

Canara Bank has adjusted its lending and fixed deposit interest rates. This follows the Reserve Bank of India's recent repo rate reduction. Borrowers with loans linked to RLLR will see lower rates. However, new fixed deposit holders will receive reduced interest. These changes reflect the current economic adjustments.

Five mutual fund NFOs are currently open for subscription, dominated by passive offerings such as ETFs, index funds, and FoFs, alongside one active fund. Investors are advised to align choices with their risk profile and long-term goals.

Kotak Mutual Fund has launched the Kotak Nifty Next 50 ETF, a passively managed fund tracking the Nifty Next 50 Index, offering diversified exposure to emerging large-cap companies at discounted valuations, with the NFO open from December 18 to January 1

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund will launch three new schemes in January 2026two debt funds and one sectoral equity fund. The Short Duration and Low Duration Funds will open on January 8, while the Sector Rotation Funds NFO begins January 27. Minimum investment starts at Rs 500.

The government has rolled out major updates to the National Pension System through the PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals under NPS) Amendment Regulations, 2025, notified on December 16, 2025. Read on to find out how these changes will impact both government and non-government subscribers.

HDFC Bank has followed SBI in reducing fixed deposit interest rates on select tenures for amounts below Rs 3 crore, effective December 17, 2025. The bank has trimmed rates by 15 basis points for tenures between 18 months and less than 21 months. This move comes after the RBI's recent repo rate cut.

Tax on NPS lump sum withdrawal: New National Pension System rules permit non-government subscribers to withdraw up to 80% of their corpus as a lump sum upon retirement. Previously, only 60% was tax-exempt. Tax experts suggest the additional 20% may be taxable unless tax laws are amended. Subscribers may see tax relief in Budget 2026.

The cut-off period runs from July 1 to December 31, 2025, with the final categorisation taking effect on February 1, 2026.

In AMFIs upcoming semi-annual reshuffle, Canara Bank and HDFC AMC may be upgraded to largecap, while Apar Industries could move to midcap. Several stocks, including Sona BLW, Gujarat Gas, and LIC Housing Finance, may shift to smallcap, Nuvama has predicted. Changes take effect February 1, 2026, with fund managers closely tracking adjustments.

Auto and Banking & Financial Services equity mutual funds have surged past 10% returns in 2025, leading the pack. While most categories saw positive gains, Smallcap and Pharma & Health Care funds experienced declines. Experts attribute the strong performance to robust demand, policy support, and improving financial sector fundamentals.

The West Bengal government has released its official holiday calendar for 2026. State government offices and banks will observe these closures. Dates for certain religious festivals may change based on moon sightings, with separate orders to follow. Some days are designated as sectional holidays for employees of specific communities.

Thousands of taxpayers are still waiting for their income tax refunds even though they filed returns months back. Read on to find out what the CBDT chairman has said about high-value refunds.

Balanced advantage funds invest in a mix of stocks, debt, and arbitrage opportunities. These funds decide their equity exposure depending on key market ratios or in-house parameters. They invest less in stocks when the market is very high or valuations are stretched.

The Income Tax Department sent a tax notice to a husband deeming he bought new flat using Rs 48 lakh cash and had Rs 1.5 crore unverified and unexplained money from sale of old flat; he wins case in ITAT Ahmedabad. Read below to know how he won the case.

Understanding mutual fund taxation is key for investors. Equity funds held over a year attract a 12.5% long-term capital gains tax, with the first Rs 1.25 lakh tax-free annually. Debt funds are taxed as per income-tax slabs. Hybrid funds often qualify for equity taxation. Dividends are fully taxable. Investors can strategically use these products for tax efficiency.

Mutual fund managers adopted a cautious stance in November as benchmark indices reached all-time highs while the broader market lagged. Top sector picks included private banks and NBFCs, with fund houses adding stocks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Shriram Finance. IT blue chips such as Infosys and TCS also attracted buying interest.

The government will divest up to 3% stake in Indian Overseas Bank via an offer for sale starting December 17, with a floor price of Rs 34, at a discount to market price.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced significant changes to the National Pension System (NPS). Key updates include a reduced annuity limit to 20%, the option for subscribers to remain in NPS until 85 years of age, and the introduction of Systematic Unit Redemption for at least six years.

New rules allow non-government National Pension System subscribers greater flexibility. Up to 80% of retirement funds can now be withdrawn as lump sum. A minimum of 20% of the accumulated pension wealth will be used to purchase an annuity. These changes aim to provide subscribers more control over their retirement benefits. The regulations are effective from 2025.

The Income Tax Department has exposed a nationwide network of agents facilitating fraudulent tax deductions and exemptions, leading to illegitimate refunds. Sophisticated data analytics and third-party verification are used to detect these fake claims, with severe penalties including tax demands, interest, and potential prosecution for offenders.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I plan to sell my residential property, held for 27 years, and use part of the long-term capital gains (LTCG) to purchase another residential property. Will I get LTCG tax exemption on the amount invested, with tax applicable only on the uninvested portion?

The Wealth Company Mutual Fund has launched an open-ended Gold ETF tracking domestic gold prices, offering investors a transparent, low-cost and liquid alternative to physical gold amid rising interest in bullion investments.

Gold has often cushioned portfolios across crises, corrections and recoveries, though its performance varies across market cycles and events.

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a maintenance claim from a wife, who misrepresented her employment status as illiterate and unemployed. Upon investigation, the court discovered she had a monthly income of Rs 36,000, rendering her ineligible for maintenance, especially considering her husbands obligations to his elderly parents.

SBI Mutual Fund maintained a diversified equity portfolio in November, with HDFC Bank remaining its largest holding. Select adjustments were seen across banking, telecom and IT stocks, with marginal changes in portfolio weights. Overall positioning reflected a stable allocation strategy with selective buying and selling across key large-cap names.

Odisha government has announced its holiday list for 2026. This includes all public, regional, and national holidays. State employees can also choose one optional holiday.