The Economic Times

Homemakers earning under Rs 2 lakh from fixed deposits and mutual funds may not need to file ITR legally, but voluntary nil return filing helps maintain records and claim TDS refunds.

Deleting UPI apps doesn't deactivate associated IDs, leaving financial and privacy risks. Old, forgotten UPI IDs linked to recycled mobile numbers can be exploited by fraudsters. Users must proactively unlink accounts, cancel mandates, and deactivate IDs to ensure digital financial hygiene.

Central government employees' pension demands were discussed at the NC-JCM meeting. Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan assured that pension increment every five years and family pension reduction issues will go to the 8th Pay Commission. Physically disabled dependents will have income certificate requirements examined. Old Pension Scheme for certain employees recruited before December 22, 2003, is being considered.

Gold and silver prices saw an increase today, May 19, 2026. Major jewellery brands like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas reported higher rates for 22k gold.

Women are significantly boosting India's mutual fund landscape, managing Rs 11.3 lakh crore in assets and contributing Rs 3 lakh crore in new investments during FY26. Their participation grew 13%, outpacing men's 11% growth. This surge highlights a shift towards disciplined, goal-oriented investing, with a rising number of women embracing diversified and long-term wealth creation strategies.

Building a mutual fund portfolio needs careful planning. Experts highlight that too many funds lead to overlap and high risk, especially in smallcap and midcap categories. Investors are advised to consolidate holdings, increase largecap exposure, and reduce thematic investments. A balanced approach with fewer, well-chosen funds ensures better management and stability.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: If an income is tax-exempt in India, is it also exempt in the US for an NRI? For instance, interest on NRE accounts, FCNR deposits, and PPF is tax-free in Indiadoes it need to be reported in the US, and will it be taxed there, including PPF maturity proceeds?

HSBC Midcap Fund delivered exceptional returns, transforming a Rs 10,000 monthly investment into Rs 2.33 crore over two decades. The fund also showed strong three-year trailing returns, ranking second in its category. Experts highlight the fund manager's strategy of focused stock selection in quality mid-sized companies across growth sectors. This approach has consistently benefited from India's economic expansion.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2020-21 Series-II, fixed at Rs 15,904 per unit. Investors can redeem this tranche from May 19, 2026, after the fifth year. This offers an absolute simple return of over 250% on the initial investment.

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has launched two new strategies under its Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) segment: iSIF Active Asset Allocator Long-Short Fund and iSIF Equity Long-Short Fund. The NFOs are open for subscription till June 2. The strategies aim to offer adaptive portfolio construction through long-short positioning, dynamic asset allocation and derivatives-based risk management.

With a Rs 1.5 crore retirement corpus earning 6%, withdrawing Rs 1 lakh monthly can last about 22 years, leaving little balance. Slightly higher returns allow marginally higher withdrawals but nearly exhaust the corpus. Experts caution that returns from the corpus arent guaranteed and suggest a safer 35% withdrawal rate to sustain funds longer. A balanced mix of debt and hybrid funds, with focus on stability over high returns, is key to avoiding premature depletion.

Indian students studying in the USA on an F1 visa need specific authorization to work. This authorization comes from an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) linked to Optional Practical Training (OPT). A confirmed job offer alone is not enough. Students must complete their studies and obtain the EAD before starting any employment.

Indian families with assets in the USA and UK need robust succession plans. A single Indian Will may not suffice for overseas properties. Experts advise considering jurisdiction-specific documents and trusts. This ensures smooth wealth transfer and avoids disputes. Proactive planning is crucial for protecting heirs and managing foreign tax implications.

West Bengal state government employees will see salary and pension increases with the 7th Pay Commission approval. A new Annapurna Bhandar scheme offers financial aid to women, linked to Lakshmir Bhandar.

HDFC Bank has updated its Regalia Gold Credit Card lounge access policy, introducing a spend-based eligibility for domestic airport lounges starting July 1, 2026. Cardholders must now spend at least Rs 60,000 in the preceding quarter to qualify for three complimentary visits. International lounge access via Priority Pass remains unchanged with six annual visits.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund held major allocations in banking, telecom and financial stocks during April 2026, with portfolio adjustments in MCX, L&T and BSE reflecting active investment and rebalancing strategies.

Private landlords in the UAE can now access tenant credit scores. This new system requires tenant consent through the UAE PASS digital identity platform. The Etihad Credit Bureau facilitates this secure, consent-based data sharing. This initiative aims to increase transparency in the real estate market. The service was announced at GITEX 2025 and launched in April 2026.

Seven mutual funds reduced stakes in 19 smallcap stocks during April, trimming exposure across sectors to actively manage portfolios, rebalance holdings, and improve returns amid changing market conditions and valuations.

The Unique Identification Authority of India has extended the free Aadhaar document update service on the myAadhaar portal. Aadhaar holders can now update their identity and address proof documents without any charge until June 14, 2027. This facility is exclusively available online. The authority encourages citizens to update their details to ensure accuracy in the Aadhaar database.

India-focused offshore funds saw mixed trends as Franklin FTSE India ETFs attracted strong inflows, while the top 10 funds combined assets declined 22% in March 2026 amid broader market weakness.

Market expert Nisreen Mamaji advised a balanced, structured approach to a Rs 6 lakh mutual fund investment, suggesting 80% allocation to equities and 20% to gold and silver, deployed via staggered investing. She projected potential long-term returns of 1214% for equity, 78% for gold and 911% for silver, highlighting disciplined investing, diversification and avoiding overcomplex portfolios for wealth creation.

Bank of India has raised interest rates on fixed deposits for tenures between one and three years. These new rates are effective from May 18, 2026. Senior citizens and super senior citizens will receive additional benefits. The bank has also outlined its penalty charges for premature withdrawals of fixed deposits.

Gold prices dipped on May 18, 2026, influenced by global market weakness and shifting investor sentiment. While international rates saw a sharp weekly decline, Indian domestic prices remained high due to rupee movement and local demand. Leading jewelry brands and IBJA reported a decrease in gold and silver rates.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund has launched its second Altiva SIF offering, the Altiva Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund. This equity-led strategy aims for long-term capital appreciation by focusing on small and midcap companies, offering a differentiated investment opportunity beyond the top 100 by market capitalization.

The 49th annual meeting of the NC-JCM, presided by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, addressed key central government employee concerns. Discussions focused on demands for the 8th Pay Commission, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and the increasing number of pending court cases. The meeting also highlighted issues like delayed government order implementation for AIIMS employees and non-implementation of arbitration awards.

Retiring soon and aiming for a Rs 1 lakh monthly income from your PF and gratuity corpus? Experts advise against investing the entire corpus in income products due to inflation and longevity risks. A prudent bucket strategy is recommended for sustainable income and portfolio growth.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2020-21 Series VIII at Rs 16,012 per unit. Investors can redeem their bonds early from May 18, 2026, after five years of the issue date. This offers online investors a significant return of 212.30% on their initial investment, excluding interest.

Mutual funds have significantly reduced their technology sector exposure to an eight-year low, driven by concerns over AI disruption, slowing global IT spending, and muted earnings. This strategic shift reflects investor caution amid a transition phase for the IT sector, with a preference for domestic sectors like financials and defence.

Delhi electricity consumers receive significant relief as the Supreme Court ruled they cannot be made to pay for the depreciation costs of a TATA Power Delhi Distribution plant during periods of no supply. The court stated that consumers should not bear costs for services they do not receive.

The UK Renters' Rights Act, effective May 1, 2026, introduces significant changes to tenant evictions. Landlords can now evict tenants under 11 specific legal grounds, categorized as mandatory or discretionary. These grounds include situations like the landlord or family needing to occupy the property, the intention to sell, or mortgage repossession, each with strict notice periods and conditions.

Appraisal season this year saw companies begin aligning salary structures with new labour codes and updated income tax rules. While some firms implemented changes from April, broader adoption remains gradual. Higher basic pay and social security contributions may reduce take-home salaries despite hikes. The choice between old and new tax regimes now depends on deductions, HRA claims and paperwork readiness.

Many are trading metro life for tier 2 cities, seeking better quality of life, cleaner environments, and reduced stress. While income may fall, lower expenses and proximity to family are significant draws. However, career growth, job opportunities, and infrastructure quality remain crucial considerations for this evolving relocation trend.

Where family arrangements are involved, they must comply with legal conditions, including joint ownership where required. Informal arrangements, especially involving unrelated persons, carry significant risk. The consequences are serious. It is no longer just about losing a legal claim. It can mean complete confiscation of the asset.

An EGR is a digital certificate backed by actual physical gold stored in a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)-regulated vault. The receipt is held in your demat account, like a share or ETF. You can buy EGRs in denominations of either 0.1 gram (i.e. 100 mg), 1 g, 10 g, 100 g and 1 kg.

PMS-style mutual fund advisory can fetch you a curated selection of funds with allocation and execution embedded. This convenience faces a test of capabilities and the burden of costs.

While there is a growing tribe of passionate passive-only believers (a perfectly legitimate approach), its best to take a middle path and build a portfolio that has allocation to both passive and active components.

Different sectors use different valuation metrics because business models vary. Investors therefore need to understand not just valuation multiples, but the logic behind them. P/E multiple, PEG ratio, P/S ratio, price-to-book value, EV/Ebitda are some commonly used relative valuation metrics.

Welcome to TrendMap, your visual guide to investment performance. This edition tracks 10 years of global equity returns. Currency fluctuations impact the returns on foreign investments. To capture the real value from an Indian investors standpoint, these returns are adjusted to reflect their equivalent in Indian rupees. Key takeaway: diversification helps navigate market cycles.

Expense-tracking apps, spreadsheets, Artificial Intelligence (AI) -generated analysis, and budgeting dashboards are not merely bookkeeping tools. They reveal recurring patterns, unconscious leakages, and hidden habits that quietly shape long-term wealth outcomes. Before you can plan where your money goes, you have to see where it is already going.

Yield curves are usually of three typesnormal, flat and inverted depending on the varying slopes of the curves. A yield curve can be used as a predictor for future interest rate movements of debt instruments, and can subsequently help in taking investing decisions based on their existing investments.

India is the worlds third-largest oil importer, heavily dependent on global markets and energy flowing out of the Persian Gulf. In a crisis, the government typically prioritises the protection of its 1.4 billion, price-sensitive consumers and containing inflation, but last Fridays increase suggests it is beginning to restore a balance as fiscal and market pressures grow.