The Economic Times

Reliance Industries reported record Q2FY27 profit of Rs 29,550 crore and revenue of Rs 3.62 lakh crore, driven by strong refining margins and Jio growth. Retail profitability weakened, while declining debt improved the conglomerate's financial position.

First Global's Devina Mehra urges Indian investors to diversify across countries, sectors, currencies and asset classes. She highlights global opportunities, changing market leadership and the risks of chasing popular investments, advocating broader international exposure for long-term portfolio resilience.

$1.5 trillion will change hands as India's 50-plus pass on wealth: Bajaj AMC's Ganesh Mohan

The Reserve Bank of India has declared a new interest rate of 7.26% per annum for the Government of India Floating Rate Bond 2034, reflecting an increase from the earlier rate of 6.45%. This updated rate will be effective from October 30, 2026, to April 29, 2027, allowing investors to earn more on their six-monthly coupon payments.

Indias SIP growth story has a long runway, with household equity exposure still in single digits and a large number of investors in the wealth-accumulation phase, says Carnelian Asset Managements Vikas Khemani. Speaking at the ET Wealth Expo, he said SWPs may take another 25 years to gain widespread relevance as the population ages and more investors transition towards retirement.

Vivek Kannan has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Hinduja Housing Finance Limited. He succeeded Sachin Pillai, who stepped down but remains on the board as a non-executive director. Kannan joined the company as Chief Operating Officer in 2020 and contributed significantly to its growth and transformation. With over two decades of experience, he has held leadership roles in various financial institutions.

Swarup Mohanty of Mirae Asset urged investors to focus on the consistency and quality of their investment decisions rather than market movements. At the ET Wealth Expo, he stressed that financial goals should drive asset allocation, cautioned against chasing past returns and highlighted the importance of buying good businesses at reasonable valuations.

ICICI Prudential MF's S Naren cautions investors against chasing asset classes after sharp rallies, calling it anti-asset allocation. At the ET Wealth Expo, he highlighted the importance of investing in underperforming asset classes, including international debt, and using valuation indicators to guide decisions. He also discussed gold, real estate and the need for patience during market corrections.

Around 10 mutual funds and one specialised investment fund (SIF) are currently open for subscription, offering investors options across silver, debt, thematic, multi-asset and equity categories. Here is a look at their minimum investment amounts and subscription closing dates.

Since last Diwali, TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund has delivered an impressive return of 19.82%, exceeding expectations against its benchmark. The fund manager credits strategic investments concentrated in industrials, healthcare, and consumer sectors for this success. Although small-cap investments are known for their growth prospects, they necessitate careful management and patience. Experts recommend a moderate allocation tailored to individual risk appetites and suggest systematic investment plans fo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 24th instalment of Rs 2,000 of the PM Kisan samman yojana scheme today in Gujarat. Farmers eagerly awaited this payment, which is crucial for their agricultural needs and expenses. Eligible farmers must complete their eKYC to receive this instalment, which is mandatory according to the PM Kisan portal guidelines.

Employees at the Bina branch of India Post defrauded depositors out of Rs 36.4 lakh through forged documents. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the postal department to refund the victims with applicable interest. This decision follows a case where the victims were misled by unauthorized employees posing as authorized staff. The High Court's ruling emphasizes the trust placed in the postal employees by the victims.

Axis Bank will implement a new fee structure affecting its domestic and NRI savings accounts. The free cash transaction limit will reduce from four to three transactions or Rs 1 lakh. Minimum balance penalties will also change, particularly for semi-urban and rural accounts due to increased maximum charges. Additionally, the EDGE REWARD program will be discontinued for several account categories.

Maharashtra remained the largest contributor to mutual fund assets under management (AAUM) in September 2026, with Rs 33.10 lakh crore, followed by Delhi at Rs 7.78 lakh crore. Karnataka, Gujarat and West Bengal were among the other leading contributors.

Indias SIP flows reached a record 32,490 crore in September 2026, doubling in under three years. Investor participation expanded, smallcap and flexicap funds attracted strong inflows, and B30 cities gained mutual fund AUM share, reflecting broader market participation.

A 33-year-old investor aiming to build a Rs 6 crore corpus over 22 years may need to raise his annual SIP step-up from 10% to 1617%, according to an expert. The portfolio could also benefit from replacing the underperforming small-cap fund with a large-cap scheme, adding limited gold exposure and adopting a separate SIP strategy for the Rs 25 lakh property goal.

Central government employees must contribute to the Unified Pension Scheme during probation, yet contributions during suspension are optional. The government continues contributions during suspension only if the employee opts to contribute as well. Employees on absence without pay are exempt from making any contributions at that time. Delayed contributions may be restored if the delay is not the subscriber's fault.

Indias gold ETFs managed Rs 1.86 lakh crore across 26 schemes as of September 2026, despite a monthly return correction of 4.78%. The market remained concentrated, with five leading schemes controlling 80.2% of assets, while one-year returns stayed positive at approximately 2628%.

Tax on capital gains from gold investment: Investing in gold can yield gains, but investors must be informed about the associated tax liabilities. Different types of gold investments, including physical gold, ETFs, and FoFs, have varying tax implications. Gold held for less than 24 months generates short-term capital gains, while long-term gains apply to gold held longer. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) have specific tax exemptions if held until maturity, which investors should note.

Gold and Silver rate: Gold and silver indicative jewellery prices decreased today, but retail prices for 22k jewellery remained stable across various cities. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association provided updates on gold and silver rates for various purity levels.

ETMutualFunds shortlisted leading small-cap mutual funds using rolling returns, consistency, downside risk, outperformance and asset size. The list includes schemes from Axis, SBI, Kotak and Nippon India, with three-year rolling returns ranging from 24% to 33.5%. Small-cap funds are best suited to aggressive investors with a high risk appetite and a long investment horizon.

Diwali serves as an ideal occasion for investors to examine their mutual fund portfolios and enhance efficiency. It is crucial to identify underperforming schemes and ensure alignment with financial goals and risk appetite. Investors should assess if poor performance is due to market conditions or inherent issues with the fund. New fund offers should be evaluated for portfolio suitability before investment.

Compare SIPs, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (8.2%), PPF (7.1%), term insurance, health cover, gold ETFs and kids savings accounts, with a simple 5-step plan.

According to Sebi norms, medium to long term funds have a mandate to invest in debt and money market instruments in such a way that the Macaulay's duration of the portfolio is four to seven years. Since these schemes invest in long-term debt instruments, they are considered risky.

8th Pay Commisssion newsThe 8th Pay Commission held its final meetings in Mumbai, focusing on salary and pension reform for central government employees. Associations have proposed an annual increment rate of 5-7%, aimed at counteracting inflation and enhancing salaries. If implemented, these adjustments could lead to substantial pay raises over the coming decade, with definitive figures pending in the forthcoming report from the Pay Commission.