The fear of losing purchasing power due to inflation and low-interest rates has led many to explore safe alternatives to fixed deposits with high returns
Here's how to own your dream home without paying excessive interest on your EMIs.
rediffGURU Ramalingam Kalirajan answers your personal finance queries.
Mid-cap and small-cap mutual fund schemes have continued to attract strong investor interest, garnering nearly Rs 30,350 crore in inflows during the April-September period of the current financial year, driven by impressive returns delivered by these segments. In comparison, the cumulative inflow into mid-cap and small-cap funds stood at Rs 32,924 crore during the same period last year, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).
P V Subramanyam clears some misconceptions about debt funds.
Under the new guidelines, the top 10 active equity schemes in terms of assets would collectively require investments of around Rs 365 crore -- up from mandated Rs 50 lakh at present -- in their own schemes.
Mutual funds (MFs) have significantly increased their ownership across market segments, but the midcap space stands out with comparatively higher growth. Data reveals that the number of midcap companies with over a fifth of MF ownership has doubled from nine in March 2022 to 18 by March 2025. In contrast, largecap stocks saw only a marginal rise, from three to four such companies during the same period.
People with modest incomes can also build a crore-worthy portfolio by investing small amounts consistently, says Ramalingam Kalirajan, and shows how the magic of compounding works.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Milind Vadjikar your insurance, stocks, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'A balanced portfolio mix of domestic and international equity, fixed income, and precious metals is recommended.'
'Most tax notices arise not from wrongdoing, but from unintentional mismatch or ignorance.'
You now have to wade through concepts such as asset allocation, rupee cost averaging and rebalancing, understanding of which is essential to make your investment a success. These weighty words could make the timid give up any thoughts of investing.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Nitin Narkhede your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have added a record number of investment accounts in 2024, buoyed by the sectoral and thematic investing euphoria that has spilled into the passive space.
The ideal time to invest in sector funds, is during a downturn so that investors can capitalise on a turnaround in 1.5 to 2 years.
Equity funds' exceptional performance was obviously due to the stock market rally that was led by small and mid-cap stocks. Realty, banks and consumer goods companies emerged as top gainers.
Meet the game-changer in mutual fund investments, explains Anamika Pareek.
Despite similar tax treatment, debt MFs enjoy certain advantages over FDs.
The amount of tax will depend on the holding period of the fund. Short-term (less than a year) profit from the fund is added to your income and will be taxed according to your income slab. In case of redemption made after one year, the long-term capital gains tax will be charged.
Today, says Ajit Menon, CEO, PGIM India Mutual Fund, he's pretty much cruising on the parenting highway but that wasn't always the case.
Inflows into equity mutual fund (MF) schemes declined for the third month in a row in March even though the equity market recovered sharply. Equity MF schemes raked in a net Rs 25,082 crore in March, down 14 per cent from February.
Net flows from domestic institutional investors crossed Rs 5 trillion for the first time during a calendar year.
Always keep your portfolio simple, says mutual fund expert Rahul Goel.
Dwaipayan Bose highlights the similarities and contrasts between ETFs and Index Funds.
'What we need to watch is how Saudi Arabia's financial assistance will be used by Pakistan. If the funds go to build their military hardware and operations, it should worry us.'
The majority of active largecap funds are set to outperform for the second year in a row in 2024, thanks to the strong performance of their midcap and smallcap allocations.
Front-running is a fraudulent practice where traders exploit advance knowledge of large client orders for personal profit.
When star mutual fund managers quit their jobs to start their own ventures, they have often begun their new innings by becoming portfolio management service (PMS) providers. Over the years there has been an influx of fund managers - they could earn big if they succeeded on their own - and alongside there are wealthy clients looking for an edge beyond that offered by traditional mutual funds.
MMFs invest in fixed-income instruments maturing in less than one year, minimising interest-rate risk.
'As we navigate uncertain waters, a conservative approach to largecap investing could provide a strategic advantage.'
Domestic passive mutual fund (MF) schemes will have to sell around Rs 1,500 crore worth of ITC Hotels shares once the demerged entity lists on the exchanges, according to estimates. Passive MF schemes - especially those tracking the Nifty 50 and Sensex - will have to offload their holdings in ITC Hotels as the stock will be excluded from the indices.
While picking a quality mutual fund is never easy, rising markets often make the task seem a lot easier. Exercise a greater degree of caution, because tough times can and do separate the men from the boys.
The systematic withdrawal plan stands out as a superior option, providing steady income despite market fluctuations and inflation, says Ramalingam Kalirajan.
Let's Make Savings As Exciting As Spending. This World Savings Day, rediffGURUS Nitin Narkhede, Milind Vadjikar and Ramalingam Kalirajan are all set to answer your queries on savings and investments.
Many of the benefits of fund investment hinge on the importance of diversifying investments to reduce risk
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