The Economic Times

Akshaya Tritiya, a day for prosperity, now embraces digital gold. This modern investment allows easy online gold purchases, offering convenience and flexibility. Investors can start small, ensuring consistent savings. Digital gold blends tradition with smart financial planning for a secure future. It provides a safe and accessible way to honor this timeless gold tradition.

Gold prices in Dubai remained a key focus on Saturday, April 18, 2026, influenced by global market trends. Major jewelers like Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers, Dubai Jewellery Group, and iGold updated their 18k, 22k, and 24k rates. Consumers can now check the latest prices for 24k gold around AED 582.25 per gram.

DA hike for central government employees: A 2% hike in DA will take it from its current rate of 58% to 60%. With this hike, dearness relief (DR) for pensioners has also been increased to 60%. The announcement is for January 2026 and central government employees and pensioners will get arrears from the back date.

Gold's strong appeal continues for Akshaya Tritiya 2026. Investors are showing interest in coins and small bars. Global economic concerns and geopolitical tensions are driving gold price volatility. Experts suggest this volatility is an opportunity to gradually build gold positions. Consumers are also exploring diamonds and silver alongside gold.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a rise on Saturday, April 18, 2026, as Akshaya Tritiya approaches on April 19, 2026. Consumers are closely watching these daily fluctuations to make informed purchase decisions for the auspicious occasion. IBJA rates for April 17, 2026, are also provided.

Gold continues its role as a trusted asset for Indian households, blending tradition with financial security. Investors are showing increased interest in flexible gold options alongside traditional purchases. Global factors like geopolitical tensions and economic growth concerns support gold's appeal. The outlook for gold remains constructive for medium to long-term investors, with a 'buy on dips' strategy recommended.

Gold ETFs and Gold Funds offer different advantages for investors. Gold ETFs are more cost-effective and tax-efficient. Gold Funds provide easier access for those without a demat account. Experts suggest Gold ETFs for first-time investors seeking direct exposure. Gold's outlook remains constructive, though near-term volatility is expected. Investors should view gold as a hedge, not a core portfolio allocation.

Sovereign Gold Bond: The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2020-21 Series-VII. Investors can redeem these bonds from April 20, 2026. The redemption price is fixed at Rs 15,254 per unit.

Investors selling property face a choice: reinvest for tax savings or maximize long-term wealth. Financial expert Shweta Jain advises a balanced approach for a 10-year horizon, suggesting a mix of high-growth equities and stable instruments. While reinvesting in property offers tax benefits, it limits liquidity. Diversification is key for optimal returns and financial flexibility.

Senior citizens seeking stable returns and capital safety find fixed deposits a preferred investment. For a 3-year tenure, small finance banks like Jana and Utkarsh offer the highest rates at 8%. Private sector banks Bandhan and YES Bank provide 7.75%, while public sector banks like Bank of India lead with 7%.

Central government pensioners' rights are a key focus in the NC-JCM's 51-page memorandum for the 8th Pay Commission. Demands include a same fitment factor for employees and pensioners, increased gratuity to Rs 75 lakh, and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. The memorandum also calls for a reduced pension commutation period and expanded CGHS facilities.

Bank holiday today: According to the RBI holiday calendar, banks are closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays. While branch services may be limited, digital banking channels remain accessible for routine transactions.

The increase in the tax-exempt limit for employer-provided meals to 200 per meal under Rule 15 of the Income-Tax Rules, 2026 marks a significant shift from the earlier 50 cap. However, the real issue lies not in the quantum of the benefit, but in the interpretation of the ruleparticularly the condition that meals must be provided during working hours.

Resigning from a job in FY 2025-26 and receiving salary arrears in FY 2026-27 can lead to a higher tax liability. To avoid this, taxpayers must now use the new Form 39 for Tax Year 2026-27, replacing the older Form 10E, to claim relief under Section 89(1) and ensure accurate tax calculation.

State Bank of India customers are facing temporary disruptions with OTP and SMS services on the YONO platform. This issue is impacting transactions requiring authentication. SBI expects services to be fully restored by 5:45 PM on April 17, 2026. Users are advised to utilize other digital banking channels in the interim. Similar disruptions occurred on April 16, 2026.

Akshaya Tritiya 202: Akshaya Tritiya on April 19, 2026, sees a surge in digital gold purchases. Platforms like PhonePe, JioFinance, and Paytm offer convenient ways to invest in 24K gold, bypassing crowded stores and storage concerns. These apps allow easy buying, selling, and even physical gold delivery options.

PSU mutual funds saw Rs 4,498 crore in outflows in March, a mild improvement from February, according to Vallum Capital. While PSU funds posted strong long-term returns, sector trends were mixedconsumption saw withdrawals, but manufacturing, infrastructure, defence and pharma attracted fresh inflows, signalling a pivot toward domestic capex themes.

Generating a steady income from investments is a common goal for many investors, especially those looking to balance growth with regular cash flow.

In line with the larger national trend, gold prices in Chennai too recorded a slight drop on Friday (April 17, 2026). As per the prices quoted by leading jewellery retailers in the city, the price of 24 karat gold was around Rs 15,431 per gram, down from Rs 15,568 per gram levels on Thursday.

22k gold rate today: Gold prices saw a slight decrease across major jewellers on Friday, April 17, 2026, ahead of Akshaya Tritiya. This dip, influenced by geopolitical developments like a Lebanon-Israel ceasefire and potential US-Iran talks, offers a potential buying opportunity for consumers.

In most cases, income increase happens over time, but the expenses, goals, and lifestyles increase more than nullify this increase. Most people struggle throughout life with this income-expense mismatch, even though they are doing well by most metrics.

Akshaya Tritiya, a festival believed to bring wealth, sees a surge in gold purchases, with demand often rising a week prior. This year, the auspicious day falls on Sunday, April 19, 2026, with specific muhurat timings varying by city. Consumers are increasingly opting for investment-grade gold like coins and bars, alongside digital gold, while traditional jewellery remains popular.

Gold ETFs have rallied up to 61% since last Akshaya Tritiya, driven by geopolitical tensions, central bank buying, and safe-haven demand. Experts advise sticking to asset-allocation disciplinebooking profits only if gold exceeds target weights. While valuations look stretched, long-term investors may continue SIPs as structural drivers remain supportive.

Twelve stocks signaled bullish momentum by moving above their 200-day moving averages, indicating strengthening trends and potential upside continuation.

Hybrid mutual funds, particularly aggressive hybrid schemes, offer resilience in volatile markets due to their equity and debt mix. These funds, mandated to invest 65-80% in stocks and 20-35% in debt, help conservative equity investors manage risk while aiming for wealth creation. Regular profit booking by fund managers can also enhance returns.

While the NC-JCM reached out to the cabinet secretary, one of its affiliated bodies, the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, organised a nationwide lunch-hour protest on Thursday (April 16, 2026) to voice their frustration over the delay in announcing the DA hike. The confederation also wrote a similar letter to the cabinet secretary on April 14, 2026.

An Indian employee faced a Rs 10 lakh penalty for not disclosing foreign ESOPs in his Income Tax Return. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, has now cancelled this penalty. The tribunal ruled that the omission was accidental and bona fide, especially as it was the first year of the reporting requirement.

Indian students pursuing education in the US on F1, M1, or J1 visas often face challenges securing off-campus housing. Landlords typically require a US credit history or a guarantor due to financial risk. Students must understand lease terms, including notice periods for moving out and rules against unauthorized occupancy.

Indians are facing a new threat: PAN-based loan fraud. Criminals are using stolen PAN details to take out loans without consent. This is damaging credit scores and causing immense stress. Victims must act fast by reporting to lenders, police, and credit bureaus. Prevention through secure data sharing is key to safeguarding financial identity.

Nuvama Institutional Equities predicts eight mid-cap stocks may be upgraded to large-cap status by AMFI in its H2 CY26 rejig. This potential upgrade is based on current market capitalization trends, with the largecap cut-off expected to be around Rs 1.04 lakh crore. Indian Bank, Bosch, Jindal Steel, and Indus Towers are among the prominent names anticipated to transition.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a slight increase on April 16, 2026, at major Indian jewellers. This comes as Akshaya Tritiya approaches on April 19, 2026. Brands are offering pre-booking deals and rate protection to attract customers.

Mutual funds favored Healthcare, Technology, and Utilities in March, increasing their weights. While most sectors saw value declines, Infrastructure, Technology, and Healthcare experienced the least. Private Banks maintained the highest weightage despite a slight dip, and NBFC-Non Lending saw significant over-ownership.

Health insurance restoration benefits, often misunderstood as unlimited coverage, restore your sum insured only after it's fully exhausted within the policy year. However, they have specific conditions and limitations. Understanding these nuances is crucial to avoiding underinsurance during medical emergencies.

Gurgaon's property market is set for significant changes as circle rates are slated to increase by up to 75% from April 1, 2026. This revision, reflecting market values, is expected to drive property price hikes between 15% and 75% across residential, commercial, and industrial segments. Emerging corridors like Dwarka Expressway and Southern Peripheral Road are leading these substantial increases.

Equity-oriented mutual funds saw a 17.38% year-on-year growth in average net assets under management in March 2026, driven by strong investor confidence. Flexi cap funds emerged as the largest and fastest-growing category, with average net AUM rising 25.10% to Rs 5.28 lakh crore.

Mutual funds invested Rs 1,878 crore across four IPOs in March, led by Sedemac Mechatronics and Central Mine Planning & Design Institute. The data highlights strong institutional participation in new listings, with sizeable allocations and shareholdings reflecting confidence in select offerings during the primary market activity.

Planning for long-term financial goals through mutual funds requires not just consistency, but the right asset allocation and regular portfolio reviews.