Global risks include a potential delay in the US-India trade agreement, the possibility of a sharp correction in US equity markets, and renewed geopolitical tensions.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged that some ministers are unhappy with the portfolios assigned to them in the new cabinet, which includes a high number of ministers. Pawar said that the work on pending projects will begin soon after the ministers take charge of their respective ministries. The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature will commence on March 3.
From Rs 73k to over Rs 1.2L between January-December 2025 -- is buying gold in 2026 still sensible?
Fund managers advise conservative investors to cap midcap exposure at 10 to 15 per cent of their equity portfolio.
NPS Vatsalya offers a disciplined investment avenue that parents can use to create intergenerational wealth by contributing even small sums.
The chief minister has retained the urban development and co-operation, and general administration and urban land ceiling portfolios.
Ask rediffGURU Reetika Sharma your insurance, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
New investors or those with lower-than-planned exposure should add US-oriented funds through SIPs.
Sunetra Pawar, wife of late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman deputy Chief Minister after being elected as the leader of the NCP legislature wing.
Over 50 per cent, or 660 stocks, from the BSE 1000 index recorded negative returns during CY25.
There is record underperformance and under-ownership. Some of this is cyclical and will turn on its own. However, we also need to regain our growth credentials. For this, both the government and companies have a role to play, as do investors, points out Akash Prakash.
Largecap equity funds remain suitable for conservative and moderate risk-taking investors seeking relatively stable returns.
FPIs net sold equities worth Rs 1.7 trillion in 2025 -- the highest annual net sale on record.
'The problem is not just slower growth, but also the quality of growth.'
Investors seeking higher returns at relatively higher risk should consider allocation to smallcap equity funds.
'We expect modest returns in 2026 versus the steep gains seen over the past few years.'
Shares of brokerage-related companies nosedived 18 per cent on Sunday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed raising securities transaction tax on commodity futures to 0.05 per cent from 0.02 per cent in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Investors having a moderate-risk profile can use these funds in their retirement portfolios.
'For those in for the long haul, this is a God-given opportunity.' 'Your market is falling despite strong fundamentals, and such a clear roadmap has been announced.'
'Money is not just about greed or accumulation. It gives you freedom, dignity and choice. And you have every right to all three.'
Ask rediffGURU Naveenn Kummar your insurance mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Ask rediffGURU Reetika Sharma your insurance, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
India was being evaluated for a potential weight of around 1 per cent in the index, an allocation that could have translated into $25 billion of inflows, spread over roughly 10 months.
'If their allocation to certain segments have become high due to strong returns over the past three-four years, they should rebalance their portfolios and bring them in line with their long-term asset allocation.'
Electric vehicle (EV) penetration in the luxury car segment has seen a drop by nearly 3 percentage points in the GST 2.0 era with the internal combustion engine versions offering better total cost of ownership, according to industry players. While the trend is also visible in the mass market segment, it is the entry luxury segment that is witnessing a more marked shift towards internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as price difference between EV and ICE widened under the new GST rates.
Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, has retaining the home ministry.
Investors must account for currency depreciation in their financial plans and use instruments that can cushion the erosion in purchasing power.
Lapang retained cabinet affairs, political, personnel home (police), taxation, revenue, district council affairs and departments not allocated to any minister.
New investors should gradually build a 5 to 10 per cent allocation to gold.
The rupee witnessed its worst single-day decline in around two months since November 21, 2025, due to demand for dollars among importers, said dealers. The maturing short positions in the non-deliverable forwards market further weighed on the local currency.
'Stopping now would defeat the core purpose of an SIP, which is to average out the purchase cost over market cycles.'
'Consider 40% to 50% in equities, 10% in gold as a hedge, and the remaining 30% to 40% split between multi-asset funds and hybrid funds.'
'Indian markets may underperform global peers for the next two quarters.' 'But beyond that, India should catch up and resume its long-term growth path.'
Rebalance the portfolio at least once a year to ensure it remains in sync with the target asset allocation.
The government has circulated among members ofParliament a new draft of the Amendment of Insurance laws Bill, 2025, proposing stricter safeguards on the utilisation of life insurance funds and other specified insurance business funds, particularly for dividend payouts, bonuses, and servicing of debentures.
Investors encountering underperformance must be patient.
Actor-politician Vijay held his first public meeting in Puducherry, criticising the central government for neglecting the union territory's demand for statehood and praising the local government's impartiality. He also targeted the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, suggesting they could learn from Puducherry.
Largecap equities are less volatile than mid- and smallcap stocks, making them suitable for risk-averse investors.
Since MAAFs invest across multiple asset classes, they offer diversification.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi has stirred controversy by suggesting that members of the "upper castes" should handle the tribal affairs portfolio. Gopi, an actor-turned-politician, argued that true progress in tribal welfare would only be achieved under the leadership of individuals from "upper castes." His comments have been met with widespread criticism, including from CPI state secretary Benoy Viswam and prominent tribal leader C K Janu.
