The Economic Times

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) has issued a crucial advisory for homebuyers, detailing six essential checks before purchasing property. These include verifying land titles, sanctioned maps, inventory details, project bank accounts, quarterly progress reports, and builder complaint history to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has revised rules for National Pension System annuity surrenders. Subscribers facing critical illness or holding older annuity contracts with specific surrender clauses can now seek surrender.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor has purchased 2,134 sq. ft. of land in Ayodhya for Rs 3.31 crore. The plot is part of a 75-acre development by The House of Abhinandan Lodha, featuring luxury amenities and a vegetarian hotel by The Leela. Kapoor stated his belief that Ayodhya chose him, seeing the land as a legacy for his family.

Rising import duty and PM Narendra Modis appeal to delay purchases have pushed jewellery brands like Kalyan Jewellers and Malabar Gold & Diamonds to promote gold recycling schemes. These schemes let customers exchange old jewellery for new items, with value based on purity and market prices. Companies use advanced XRF machines for accurate testing. Experts say even small-scale recycling can significantly cut Indias gold imports.

Taxpayers can anticipate significant improvements in the TDS system and faster resolution of tax disputes. The Central Board of Direct Taxes' Central Action Plan for 2026-2027 outlines a roadmap for a more taxpayer-centric and technology-driven tax administration. This plan aims to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and improve overall taxpayer services, leading to a more predictable and responsive tax governance framework.

AlphaGrep Mutual Fund has filed draft documents with SEBI for its first scheme, the Multi Asset Allocation Fund. The open-ended fund will invest across equity, debt, commodities and derivatives, aiming to generate long-term capital appreciation through a diversified, rules-based portfolio.

Defence civilian employees are seeking equal pay scales, promotions, and benefits as Railway employees. They also want risk and hardship allowances matching those of uniformed personnel. The All India Defence Employees' Federation has presented these demands to the 8th Pay Commission. Other key issues include minimum pay, pension, and medical benefits.

Central government employees can now choose to include either their parents or parents-in-law as dependents for CGHS medical benefits. This one-time option, once exercised, cannot be reversed by male employees. The clarification applies to both CGHS and Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944.

Mirae Asset Mutual Fund has launched the Platinum Hybrid Long-Short Fund under its Platinum SIF platform. The interval investment strategy will invest across equity, debt and derivative instruments, aiming to deliver risk-adjusted returns through arbitrage, collar strategies and high-quality debt exposure across market cycles.

Gold prices saw a slight increase on May 14, 2026, with major brands like Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds reporting higher rates. Silver also climbed to a two-month high, driven by industrial demand. Analysts suggest gold remains range-bound, while silver targets further gains amid geopolitical and economic factors.

Six equity mutual funds received inflows of over Rs 7,000 crore each in April, led by Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund. Strong investor participation boosted assets under management across flexi-cap, mid-cap, hybrid and small-cap categories during the month.

Mutual funds increased exposure to capital goods, NBFCs, utilities and logistics in April, while trimming weights in technology, banks and healthcare. Private banks remained top holdings despite marginal moderation in allocations.

The PFRDA has updated NPS investment guidelines, effective May 13, 2026, to include rupee-denominated bonds issued by the New Development Bank (NDB). This expands investment options for both government and private sector NPS funds, previously limited to bonds from IBRD, IFC, and ADB. Other conditions like credit rating and maturity remain unchanged.

Mutual funds boosted cash holdings by over Rs 12,000 crore in April, reaching Rs 1.98 lakh crore. This occurred even as Indian stock markets like Nifty 50 and Sensex saw significant gains. Several fund houses increased their cash positions, while others reduced them. SBI Mutual Fund held the largest cash reserves.

Helios Flexi Cap Fund, backed by Samir Arora, boosted its holdings in Tata Motors, Eternal, and Paytm during April. The fund also increased its stake in eight other companies, including Hero MotoCorp and Bharat Electronics. Conversely, exposure was reduced in HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, and Ather Energy. Titan Company and Axis Bank were added as new investments.

The combination of SIP and SWP can help you get a Rs 1.05 lakh monthly income for 20 years. While planning for it, experts advise disciplined investing, realistic return expectations, diversification, and sustainable withdrawal rates. The also suggest avoiding common mistakes like stopping SIPs early or withdrawing excessively.

A Mumbai tenant successfully challenged a Rs 1.1 crore tax notice. He surrendered tenancy for a new flat in a redeveloped building. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ruled in his favour. The tribunal stated that the surrender of tenancy rights, the taxable event, had not occurred in the year under assessment.

The escalating cost of foreign education, often underestimated by Indian parents, necessitates early financial planning. Beyond tuition, accommodation, insurance, and currency fluctuations significantly increase expenses. Experts advise long-term investing through SIPs, considering education inflation and currency depreciation, to fund overseas studies effectively.

Indian fund managers focused on defensive stocks in April. Pharmaceuticals saw increased investment due to opportunities like the semaglutide patent expiry. NBFCs and asset management companies also received attention. PNB Housing Finance was added as funds shifted towards retail lending. This strategy reflects concerns over oil prices and West Asian geopolitical tensions.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, Sebi, is proposing changes to how mutual funds use intraday borrowing. Currently limited to redemption payouts, Sebi wants to allow these borrowings as a cash management tool. This aims to improve fund management flexibility and returns by addressing timing mismatches in fund outflows and receivables.

HDFC Mutual Fund has withdrawn its proposed Gold-Silver Passive Fund of Fund NFO, citing concerns over rising precious metal imports and their impact on India's trade balance. This decision follows Prime Minister Modi's appeal to curb gold and silver purchases and a significant increase in import duties, aiming to conserve foreign exchange reserves amidst global economic uncertainty.

Post Office Savings Account holders can now get personalized cheque books featuring their name and account details, enhancing security and convenience. This new facility, available from May 8, 2026, offers free delivery to registered addresses.

The regulator is now considering allowing intraday borrowing for a wider set of uses, including meeting trade settlement obligations, forex transactions, derivative margin requirements, and other liquidity needs

India will now use Artificial Intelligence to fight money mule banking cyber fraud. The Home Minister announced a partnership between the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and the Reserve Bank of Indias Innovation Hub. This collaboration will help detect and block suspicious accounts faster. Consumers can expect safer digital transactions across UPI, online banking, and fintech platforms.

Axis Mutual Fund has temporarily suspended subscriptions to three overseas fund-of-fund schemes, including Global Equity Alpha, Global Innovation and Greater China Equity schemes, effective May 13, 2026. All new lump sum, SIP and switch transactions after 3:00 PM will be rejected, while existing SIPs will be paused and refunded promptly.

Gold prices surged after the government raised gold import duty from 6% to 15%, impacting MCX, IBJA rates, ETFs, and jewellery retailer prices. Experts advise existing investors to hold gold as a hedge against inflation and global uncertainty, avoiding panic selling. New investors should opt for staggered buying instead of lump sum investments, say experts.

DSP Mutual Fund has launched a new exchange-traded fund, the DSP Nifty FMCG ETF. This fund will track the Nifty FMCG Index, offering investors exposure to leading consumer goods companies. The new fund offer is currently open for subscription until May 14. Investors can gain diversified access to the resilient FMCG sector through this passive investment option.

Silver prices saw a significant jump on May 13, 2026. This surge followed the government's decision to increase customs duty on silver imports. Global geopolitical tensions and inflation worries also contributed to the price rise. Experts predict higher domestic prices and potential impact on consumer demand. The duty hike aims to reduce India's trade deficit and support the rupee.

A study by WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund suggests gold can do more than just act as a safe-haven asset, helping improve portfolio returns when combined with equity and debt investments. Analysing data from September 2001 to April 2026, the study found that adding equities to debt portfolios boosted returns without a proportional rise in risk.

SBI Mutual Fund has launched two target-maturity debt index funds focused on government securities and SDLs, with the NFO open between May 14 and May 19. The schemes aim to provide predictable fixed-income exposure through low-cost, rule-based investment strategies linked to sovereign and quasi-sovereign instruments across defined maturities.

HDFC Mutual Funds April 2026 portfolio remained banking-heavy, led by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, while increasing exposure to Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Eternal.

Mutual funds injected Rs 30,600 crore into Indian equities in April, with significant buying in ICICI Bank, SBI, and Sun Pharma. Key reductions were observed in Wipro, HDFC Bank, and Hindalco Industries across large, mid, and smallcap segments. This active portfolio management reflects ongoing strategic shifts by fund managers.

Gold prices surged on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, following a government increase in customs duty from 6% to 15% to curb imports. This duty hike is expected to further elevate domestic bullion prices, potentially impacting jewellery stocks and consumer demand, with significant price jumps observed across major brands.

New rules under the UK Renters Rights Act 2025 require landlords to give tenants an official Information Sheet. This document explains changes to tenancies. Landlords must provide this by May 31, 2026, or face fines. All tenancies will now be periodic, offering tenants more flexibility. Existing written agreements do not need immediate changes.

Sovereign Gold Bond : The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2018-19 Series-III. Investors can redeem these bonds from May 13, 2026. The redemption price is fixed at Rs 15,102 per unit.

HDFC Defence Fund, the sector's sole actively managed offering, significantly boosted its holdings in Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Bharat Electronics during April. The fund also increased its stake in six other companies, including Aequs, while reducing its exposure to Rishabh Instruments. Its portfolio remained stable with 22 stocks across various sectors.

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Funds assets under management rose to Rs 1.40 lakh crore in April as the fund increased exposure to several large-cap stocks, reduced holdings in Coal India and Power Grid, and exited Balkrishna Industries completely. The fund maintained a sizeable cash allocation amid its long-term investment-focused strategy.

Retirees with large EPF corpus need to balance safety with growth. Financial planners advise focusing on stable, tax-efficient income generation and long-term growth for surplus funds. Expert Shivam Pathak suggests a mix of government-backed schemes, G-Secs, and diversified mutual funds to meet these objectives.

A French national ran a restaurant in Karnataka for 15 years on a tourist visa. The Karnataka High Court upheld a 'Leave India' notice issued by the FRRO. The court stated foreign nationals have no right to reside or conduct business in India on a tourist visa. The Frenchman must leave within seven days.

Gold and silver ETFs rallied on Wednesday after prices of the precious metals surged on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India, following goivernemt announced higher import duties. Most gold and silver ETFs logged broad gains, while experts urged investors to avoid timing the spike and instead use SIPs to navigate the volatility.

Focused equity mutual funds invest in a maximum of 30 stocks. These schemes offer concentrated portfolios where fund managers make high-conviction bets. While successful stock picks can lead to significant gains, wrong calls can result in substantial losses. Investors with a higher risk appetite and a seven-year investment horizon may consider these funds.