Ambareesh Baliga's quick take on the markets after the increase in STT on futures and options trading...
'In the last one year, we have added more than Rs 1.7 trillion, and we are on track.'
Overlap refers to the same stocks appearing across fund portfolios.
Sometimes, the most powerful Budgets whisper and the wisest investors listen, notes Ramalingam Kalirajan.
NPS Vatsalya offers a disciplined investment avenue that parents can use to create intergenerational wealth by contributing even small sums.
Taxpayers should consider ITR-U if they omitted income, wrongly claimed deductions or exemptions, or made reporting errors that led to a shortfall in tax payment.
'People become guided by emotions, fear of missing out, and greed. They tend to invest in booming sectors that may prove exceptionally expensive.' 'Typically, that represents the peak, and subsequently, they lose substantially.'
Ask rediffGURU Reetika Sharma your insurance, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'The trade deficit in some sectors is huge and that is an area of opportunity to localise.'
Flexicap fund performance depends heavily on the fund manager's decisions.
'We kept this Budget on a larger plank, rather than on one incident, however serious.'
'Given that India underperformed emerging markets by 28 per cent in 2025, the worst performance in over 30 years, the timing of the sharp STT hike could have been better.'
'Global uncertainty is something which definitely occupies the minds of officials when we are preparing for the Budget.'
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.
'This Budget has a one-year agenda, which you can call the sprint, and the marathon is towards Viksit Bharat.'
The most common mistake is investing without assessing suitability and long-term implications.
A Delhi court convicted Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi in a UAPA case related to waging war against India and membership of a terrorist organization.
'A breakout above 158,000 to 160,000 could trigger the next leg higher toward 165,000 to 170,000.'
The fiscal tilt towards capex benefits companies in investment-related sectors like capital goods, defence equipment, engineering & construction and metal & mining. The planned cut in revenue expenditure will weigh on companies in consumption sectors like FMCG, consumer durables and retail.
Worries about global politics and trade are pulling the Nifty 50 down. Experts say the market could drop further low.
'When markets go into a budget with excessive optimism, the risk of disappointment is higher.'
Ask rediffGURU Naveenn Kummar your insurance mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'Grassroots-level corruption, which disrupts the last-mile work, cannot be ignored in your enthusiasm and drive to get going to complete the project.' 'Like it was in MGNREGA, in some states, it is the case with the Jal Jeevan mission.' 'The last minute levels of corruption can ruin the intent of the project itself.' 'When you see that people can game a particular well-intended and well-crafted project, you need to correct that.'
After two years of strong gains, smallcap stocks fell sharply in 2025, but the correction may be setting up opportunities for long-term investors.
Dabur's business update for Q3FY26 indicated mid-single digit consolidated revenue growth. The guidance is that growth in operating and net profits will beat revenue growth. In the domestic business, home and personal care (HPC) revenue grew in double digits, while healthcare is likely to post a sequential growth in low-single digits.
The RBI has flagged concerns over rising volatility in gold prices and advised lenders to exercise caution in the gold loan segment.
'Stay invested but progressively reduce risk. Beyond a point, the objective should shift from maximising returns to avoiding unpleasant surprises.'
'...a mix of asset classes.' 'Include equities for growth (across market caps), debt for stability and liquidity, gold as a hedge against macro and currency risk, and global assets for geographical and economic diversification.'
The Uttar Pradesh excise department arrested climate activist Harjeet Singh for allegedly possessing excess liquor after the ED searched his premises in connection with a foreign exchange violation case. The ED is investigating the misuse of funds received from abroad and Singh's visits to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Fund managers advise conservative investors to cap midcap exposure at 10 to 15 per cent of their equity portfolio.
With medical inflation hovering at around 13-14 per cent annually, policyholders must reassess their sum insured once every two years.
'Trading without strict position sizing, stop-loss discipline, or a clear exit plan almost guarantees losses.' 'Chasing tips, reacting to intraday noise, or assuming frequent trading improves outcomes are equally damaging habits.'
While investments are typically reviewed annually, risk cover is often left unchanged for years.
Largecap equity funds remain suitable for conservative and moderate risk-taking investors seeking relatively stable returns.
Ask rediffGURU Reetika Sharma your insurance, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Wedding insurance goes far beyond protecting against cancellations.
'New investors should enter gradually and stay cautious.' 'Silver is a structural multi-year story, but timing matters in a high-volatility metal.'
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Nitin Narkhede your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'We expect modest returns in 2026 versus the steep gains seen over the past few years.'
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