Gold and silver prices are trading with a cautious bias on Tuesday, October 13, as investors track the US dollar, interest-rate expectations and crude oil prices ahead of key US inflation data. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), December gold futures were quoted at ₹1.49 lakh per 10 grams, down 0.01%, according to the latest…
Home insurance can protect homeowners against damage to their property and belongings, but the extent of coverage depends on the policy terms, exclusions and sum insured. Understanding these details is important when reviewing or renewing a policy, particularly in cities exposed to flooding and other extreme weather events. Shashi Kant Dahuja, ED and Chief Underwriting…
The rollout of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select Person-to-Merchant (P2M) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions has been deferred to immediately after Diwali, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said on Tuesday, October 13. The new implementation date will be notified separately. In an official statement, NPCI said the UPI and Services Steering Committee…
A WhatsApp message claiming that money has been debited from your bank account can trigger panic, especially when it asks you to reply immediately if you did not make the transaction. But should you respond? Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar has warned people against replying to such messages from unknown numbers, alleging that a…
A market correction can leave investors questioning whether to increase their systematic investment plan (SIP) when an annual step-up falls due. While falling portfolio values may prompt caution, postponing an increase could also affect the amount accumulated towards a financial goal. A SIP step-up involves increasing monthly contributions periodically, usually every year. For instance, an…
Blockchain technology is being explored for uses beyond cryptocurrency trading, including cross-border payments, financial settlements and the digital representation of assets such as bonds. Two applications drawing attention are stablecoins, which aim to maintain a relatively stable value, and tokenisation, which represents ownership rights or claims on assets digitally. For consumers and investors, understanding how…
Travelling home for Navratri, Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath is becoming more expensive for many air passengers, with some reporting flight fares more than double those paid last year. For households planning festive visits alongside leisure trips, the higher cost of travel makes it important to account for transport, accommodation and other expenses before finalising…
Pensioners no longer need to visit a bank or pension office every year to prove that they are alive. The Government of India has introduced Jeevan Pramaan, an Aadhaar based digital service that makes this process easier. It allows pensioners to submit their Life Certificate online, which helps confirm their identity. This service is useful…
A phone screen that suddenly freezes or a banking app that displays an error may be used by cybercriminals to trick users into giving them access to their devices. Fraudsters may pose as customer support representatives, offer to fix the problem and persuade users to install malicious applications or grant remote access, potentially putting their…
Gold loans accounted for a quarter of India’s retail securitisation market in the first half of FY27, more than doubling their share from a year earlier, as portfolio growth among gold financiers and investor demand supported issuances, according to Crisil Ratings. Gold loans’ share of overall retail securitisation volumes rose to 25% in April-September 2026…
