The Economic Times (India)
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On India's concerns over China's close ties with Pakistan, Lin said Beijing support both India and Pakistan in properly handling their differences.
You do the research, read lists of reviews, compare the filtration stages, and shell out a significant sum for the most promising, tech-savvy water purifier in the market. Then, just two months into installation, the machine starts throwing a series of confusing, flashing signals. The premium buying experience instantly evaporates, replaced by the sheer frustration of tracking down customer care and waiting at home for a technician to show up.In Indiaโs competitive consumer durables sector, this exact friction point has transformed the landscape of water purifiers. The ultimate battle is no longer just about who can build and sell the best machine; it is increasingly about who can maintain trust after the hole has been drilled in the customer's kitchen wall.While the water purifier market is traditionally viewed through the lens of one-time appliance sales, companies like Eureka Forbes, the legacy player behind AquaGuard, are increasingly betting on a far larger opportunity hidden beneath the surface: the recurring service economy built around filters, annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) and nationwide technician networks.According to internal projections by Anurag Kumar, Chief Growth Officer at Eureka Forbes, the water purifier service market alone is on track to cross Rs 9,000 crore by FY30, nearly matching the projected Rs 10,000 crore size of the product market itself.131582773Also read: Beyond the room: Why India Inc's luxury hospitality bet is becoming an experience businessBreaking down the mathFor decades, the consumer durable playbook was simple: manufacture, distribute, sell, repeat. But water purification is far different from selling a television or a refrigerator; it is an active, evolving health product bound to the fluctuating quality of local municipal and groundwater supplies."The market for product categories for water purifiers is about Rs 3,800 crore today," Kumar says in an exclusive interview with ET Online. "I think you would add another, roughly about Rs 3,500 crore of service category as well to it."Citing independent industry reports, Kumar highlighted that by FY30, this parallel economy is set to explode. The product market will expand to over Rs 10,000 crore, while the service and aftermarket ecosystem will chase it tightly at more than Rs 9,000 crore, growing at a combined double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% to 12%.This shifting weight from hardware to service fundamentally changes corporate strategies. For an industry dealing with an urban penetration rate of just 14% (and a mere 7% nationally), the recurring revenue from existing households forms a highly resilient cash-flow cushion that protects margins even during macro-economic slowdowns.131582808Service scale becomes the biggest moatThe Rs 9,000 crore service opportunity explains why tech-first aggregators and rental startups are rushing into the service category. However, scaling an on-demand service infrastructure across Indiaโs complex geography is entirely different from coding an app.For legacy companies like Eureka Forbes, this operational network has become a major competitive advantage."After sales service can make or break a brand," says Kumar. "I think a lot of the trust that AquaGuard has today is really thanks to the fact that people have trust in our service... It's a very, very important integral part of our business and a very, very crucial moat that we continue to nurture."To defend this moat against new-age tech startups, Eureka Forbes operates at a scale that resembles a logistics company more than an appliance manufacturer. The company has deployed more than 8,000 technicians mapping out an operational footprint across 19,500 PIN codes.Also read: Apple expected to unveil new AI features at last developers conference with CEO Tim CookThe push to reduce maintenance costs"Once you sell a product, then you have it for life and there's some revenue which comes with it," Kumar says, referring to filter replacements, AMCs and servicing requirements.Interestingly, the biggest threat to this recurring service revenue is not new-age competitors, it has been consumer fatigue over high maintenance costs. Historically, the dread of paying steep annual fees to replace purifier filters has acted as a primary barrier keeping the remaining 86% of urban Indian households from adopting organised water purifiers.To beat this, Eureka Forbes pulled off a counter-intuitive strategic gear: they disrupted their own short-term revenue model to secure long-term market share.Last year, the company introduced a range of purifiers featuring "long-life" filters extending the replacement cycle from the traditional 12 months to a full two years."We did that because we fundamentally heard from consumers that there was also a barrier to the category around maintenance cost being high," Kumar reveals. "What two-year filters actually did was they actually lowered the maintenance cost because now you don't have to change filters every year. You have to change once every two years."Digitising a 1980s direct-sales DNAEureka Forbes, a company historically known for its door-to-door service, and making Aquaguard synonymous with water purifiers in India, faced a new piece of necessary upgrade with building digitisation. The multi-billion dollar service landscape required a complete digital overhaul of consumer interactions. The brand that built its empire in the 1980s on the soles of direct-sales agents knocking on suburban doors has had to pivot entirely to an on-demand, algorithmic infrastructure.An army of thousands of field technicians is only as efficient as the software directing them. For modern consumers who manage their entire lives via smartphone screens, a bland "technician will visit tomorrow" promise no longer cuts it."We've digitised that service," notes Kumar.The long-term playAs water contamination concerns spike across rapidly expanding urban clusters, the structural demand for pure drinking water will continue to climb, and so for water purifiers.However, as the hardware itself faces gradual commoditisation and intense price competition from newer market entrants, the center of gravity has largely shifted. Where the growth moves nextCapturing a dominant share of the service market is only half the blueprint. As Kumar maps out the strategic trajectory for Eureka Forbes over the next three to five years, the company's growth engine eyes two distinct tracks: aggressive geographic widening and targeted product diversification. Geographically, Kumar notes, the company is bypassing deep rural pockets for the time being to focus heavily on Indiaโs rapidly urbanising Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns. Instead, the company is doubling down on smaller towns where they can immediately deploy their signature localised service infrastructure without stretching their logistics network too thin.Simultaneously, the brand is attempting to de-risk its reliance on the kitchen wall by expanding into adjacent consumer durables. Kumar outlined a product pipeline anchored in high-growth, premium categories, including robotic vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and household water softeners. The underlying playbook here is pure cross-selling. By utilising the same 8,000-strong technician network to service these newer household appliances, Eureka Forbes is betting that its aftermarket footprint can drastically lower its customer acquisition costs; positioning the legacy firm to evolve from a single-product manufacturer into a broader home-health ecosystem player.
Shares of Rajesh Exports (REL) tumbled 5% to hit the lower circuit at Rs 94.50 on Monday, marking the third consecutive session of sharp losses after market regulator Sebi accused the company of orchestrating an elaborate financial fraud involving alleged revenue inflation of Rs 15.15 lakh crore over the years, personal gold trades purportedly passed off as corporate sales, and investments of Rs 1,035 crore in gold mines.In its findings, Sebi alleged accounting irregularities, diversion of company funds into personal accounts, and a pattern of conduct aimed at misleading investors. The regulator also flagged lapses by the company's auditors and said both Rajesh Exports and its auditors failed to fully cooperate with the investigation.In its 109-page interim order dated June 3, Sebi said its investigation and forensic examination revealed prima facie evidence suggesting that nearly 97-99% of the company's reported revenue may have been inflated. The regulator described the alleged discrepancies as "egregious and unheard of".Pending further directions, Sebi has barred Rajesh Mehta from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities of Rajesh Exports. The regulator has also directed the company to fully cooperate with investigators and ensure true and fair disclosure of its financial statements and related-party transactions."The acts of REL constitute a deliberate device, scheme and artifice to mislead and defraud investors dealing in the shares of REL by portraying an inflated and misleading picture of its operational scale, revenue and financial health," Sebi said in its order.The case stems from a shareholder complaint received in March 2024 that raised concerns over substantial trade receivables reflected in the company's accounts. Following a preliminary review, Sebi initiated a detailed investigation covering the period from April 2020 to March 2024 and appointed BDO India Services as the forensic auditor.Besides restricting Rajesh Mehta from dealing in the company's securities, Sebi has directed Rajesh Exports to furnish all pending information sought by investigators within 30 days. The regulator has also ordered the appointment of a new forensic auditor to conduct a more comprehensive review of the company's books and transactions.Rajesh Exports has denied the allegations. In a press release issued on Thursday, the company said the revenues reported in its financial statements were accurate and contended that Sebi's conclusions were based on a misunderstanding between revenue and EBITDA figures at Swiss refiner Valcambi SA, an indirect subsidiary of the company.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Travellers visiting Europe can now use a new online tool under the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) to check how many days they are still allowed to stay in participating European countries.The tool is offered for non-EU nationals travelling for short stays and helps visitors track their remaining authorised stay under Europe's immigration rules. It also indicates whether a planned entry into an EES country would be permitted.What is the EES online tool?The EES online tool is an authorised stay verification service available on the European Union's EES website. It allows travellers to calculate the number of days they can still spend in countries covered by the Entry/Exit System.When users submit their details, the system provides an "OK" or "not OK" response regarding their eligibility to enter. It also shows how many days of authorised stay remain.The same service is also available through equipment installed at some external border crossing points.What information do travellers need?To use the tool, travellers must provide:The European country they are visiting or plan to visitTheir travel document type, such as a passportPassport numberThe three-letter code of the country that issued the passportDepending on the purpose of the check, travellers may also need to enter:Their intended date of arrivalTheir intended date of departureBoth arrival and departure dates for future travel plansHow does the calculation work?The tool uses information recorded under the Entry/Exit System to determine the number of days a traveller is authorised to remain in participating European countries.Travellers who are planning a future trip can use the calculator to estimate how long they will be allowed to stay. Those already in Europe can check how many days remain before they must leave.The system can also calculate how many authorised days would remain after a planned trip ends.Key points travellers should knowThe European Union has stated that the remaining authorised stay shown by the tool does not include any time spent in the Schengen area that began before April 10, 2026, when the EES became fully operational.The EU has also stated that until October 6, 2026, the "OK" response may not always be reliable for some travellers holding single-entry or double-entry visas if previous visa use between October 12, 2025, and April 9, 2026, was not recorded in the EES.Who can use the tool?The authorised stay verification tool is intended for non-EU nationals travelling to EES-participating countries for short stays.It does not apply to people covered by EU free movement rules, including certain family members of EU citizens and individuals holding specific residence documents.The online calculator gives travellers a quick way to verify their remaining stay period before travelling or while already in Europe. By checking their status in advance, visitors can better plan their trips and reduce the risk of overstaying under the EU's new Entry/Exit System.
An unprecedented concentration crisis in global technology equities has evolved into a structural trap for investors, triggering a violent "Black Monday" unwind that is reverberating across Asian emerging markets, such as Korea and Taiwan. Active portfolio managers are increasingly being forced to dump their best-performing chip heavyweights because these explosive stocks have grown too large for risk compliance limits.This structural anomaly has distorted regional benchmarks, accelerated a massive migration from active to passive funds, and triggered a historic correction.The structural breakdown manifested in extreme volatility across the region's tech hubs. South Koreaโs Kospi index plunged more than 8% shortly after the market opened, triggering a mandatory 20-minute trading halt before narrowing its drop as memory giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rebounded from their session lows.Also Read | Kospi crashes 9%, trading halted for 20 minutes, as chip rout deepens; Samsung, SK Hynix worst hitThe Cycle of Forced SellingThe core of the market distortion lies in a mechanical paradox: As tech giants outperform, active funds are legally or structurally required to trim their holdings to manage concentration risks. Just three mega-cap tech firmsโTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Samsung, and SK Hynixโnow command nearly a third of the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index.The concentration is even more extreme on a national level. TSMC occupies a staggering 41.5% of Taiwan's TAIEX, while Samsung and SK Hynix together comprise 55% of South Korea's KOSPI."We have been forced sellers of TSMC, Samsung and MediaTek," Sam Konrad, investment manager for Asia Equity Income at Jupiter Asset Management, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. His fund must shed these chipmaking stocks despite explosive year-to-date gains of 52% for TSMC, 159% for Samsung, and 184% for MediaTek.This mechanism creates an institutional dilemma where strong performance mandates divestment, artificially capping the upside for active portfolios trying to beat their benchmarks."As equities continue to outperform, funds will find it increasingly difficult to add exposure, reinforcing a cycle of forced selling and enlarging underweight positions even amid strong fundamentals," Herald Van der Linde, head of equity strategy for Asia Pacific at HSBC in Hong Kong, noted in a research report. HSBC data confirms that TSMC has become the largest portfolio underweight among Asian and global emerging-market funds.Emerging Market Exhaustion and Fund OutflowsData from Elara Securities India confirms that the Global Emerging Market (GEM) trade is experiencing its first major phase of sustained exhaustion since its rally began. GEM fund redemptions expanded to $3 billion, the largest outflow since December 2021, marking a clear breakdown in momentum.The capital flight has extended significantly beyond Korea and Taiwan to hit other major emerging markets. China saw foreign investors pull $3.7 billion, the largest single-week redemption in over a year, while South Korea logged six consecutive weeks of foreign outflows, compounded by a record $27.9 billion foreign portfolio rebalancing outflow.The systemic nature of the unwind is visible in the broader indices. Goldman Sachs data reveals that while the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan index is up 27% year-to-date, it is actually down 4% when South Korea and Taiwan are excluded.This regional distortion has accelerated a massive, unprecedented migration from active stock-picking to passive indexing. Over the last five years, Asia's active funds have suffered $269 billion of cumulative outflows. Meanwhile, passive funds have accumulated $510 billion, with a quarter of that volume arriving in just the last six months."The size of recent inflows into the regionโs passive funds... has no precedent across the last 10 years," said William Bratton, head of cash equity research for Asia-Pacific at BNP Paribas Securities.This phenomenon mirrors the โMagnificent Sevenโ dynamic on Wall Street, where tech giants account for about a third of the S&P 500. However, concentration in Asia has unfolded at a faster and more extreme pace, turning regional indices into concentrated bets on just one or two stocks and undermining the diversification benefits of benchmark investing.Broader Trade ImplicationsThe shockwaves from the AI tech unwinding are bleeding directly into structural commodities and the wider electrification ecosystem. Precious metal funds witnessed $2.8 billion of outflows, driven heavily by gold (-$2.1 billion) and silver (-$910 million, a 12-week high redemption), while energy funds recorded their second consecutive week of outflows. These asset classes had operated as indirect beneficiaries of the global AI infrastructure and electrification trade.Furthermore, Wall Street's nine-week winning streak concluded abruptly following a hot jobs report that ignited fears of a hawkish policy pivot by the US Federal Reserve, sending technology stocks into their largest one-day decline.Despite the steep selloffs, which saw South Korean equities slide 12% and Taiwan fall 6% from their record highs, market opinions remain starkly divided on whether this correction marks a peak or a buying opportunity.Some money managers are exploiting the correction to pivot to alternatives further down the supply chain, like mid-sized semiconductor equipment makers, or shifting money toward cheaper domestic themes like robotics. China's CSI Robot Index actually bucked the broader market declines, rising 1.4%.
Selling was widespread across the market. Every stock in the Sensex basket traded in negative territory. The weakness was equally visible beyond the benchmark indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 both lost more than 1%, reflecting a broad risk-off mood among investors.
With the benchmark index - BSE Sensex down by over 10,000 basis points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026, has left many investors wondering whether to continue SIPs and lump-sum investments during the current market decline, hold current positions or wait for greater clarity on market direction?Market experts believe that investors should see this 10,000 point correction as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic.Vishal Dhawan, Founder & CEO, Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors told ETMutualFunds that investors should view this 10,000-point Sensex correction as a long-term buying opportunity as market drawdowns are natural processes that shake out speculative premiums, resetting valuations to fundamentally healthier levels.Also Read | Multicap or flexicap mutual fund for a 20-year SIP? Expert explains what investors should choose โLong-term investors can continue their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and hold current positions firmly. Pausing allocations to "wait for clarity" is a psychological trap that historically locks investors out of the sharpest days of a market rebound.โDhawan further said that while regular SIPs are key to an investment journey, panic selling must be completely avoided; use this market decline to methodically build an equity baseline designed to reward your patience when economic sentiment inevitably swings back to optimism at some point in the future and it is critical to have a minimum 5-7 year investment horizon whilst investing.Echoing a similar opinion of considering this as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic, Amitabh Lara, Executive Director, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited shared with ETMutualFunds that for long-term investors, this is not the time to stop investing.Amitabh further said that continuing SIPs during a fall can actually work in your favour because the same investment amount buys more units at lower prices and one of the biggest mistakes investors make is stopping SIPs during a correction and returning only after the recovery has already happened.The benchmark index which touched a peak of 84,391 on December 10, 2025, is now down by nearly 10,148 points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026.As the market becomes volatile, investors as well as the fund managers keep cash in hand and wait for the opportunity to deploy it in the market but with a dilemma whether to deploy cash immediately or stagger investments over time.Amitabh said that if investors have idle cash available then they can go ahead and invest as a lumpsum and funds can be deployed in a staggered manner through tranches, over 6 to 8 weeks. โIt also removes the stress of trying to time the exact bottom. If they have SIPs, they can continue it without worrying about the market level and take advantage of rupee cost averaging.โDhawan said that for investors sitting on cash, a staggered deployment strategy via a 6-month to 12 month Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) is highly recommended as this approach could hedge your principal against intermediate downside volatility.He further said that investors should avoid deploying an absolute lumpsum at current levels, as picking the exact market bottom is a statistical myth and tranche-based buying ensures you average out your entry costs across multiple lower price bands smoothly.โPark your liquid capital in low-duration instruments and systematically route it into equity. This automated execution effectively replaces portfolio anxiety with disciplined benefits. In case you wish to deploy a lumpsum, and not do a STP, an investment in the Balanced Advantage category is suggested.โ Dhawan said.How equity categories performedETMutualFunds checked the performance of equity mutual funds since December 10, 2025. Small cap funds have delivered an average return of 6.06% since the date BSE Sensex touched the new peak, followed by mid cap funds which gave an average return of 2.58%.Also Read | Nippon India Mutual Fund limits subscription in Gold BeES and gold savings fund In contrast, the counterparts, large cap funds gave a negative average return of 6.26% since December 10, 2025. Multi cap funds gave an average return of 0.06% whereas flexi cap funds fell 2.95% on an average in the said time period.Out of 10 equity categories, only three gave positive average returns which were small caps, mid caps and multi caps whereas the other categories such as large caps, contra funds, ELSS, flexi, focused, value and large & mid caps gave negative average returns.Which market-cap segment could lead the recovery?Dhawan said that large-cap stocks are typically best positioned to lead the initial recovery wave when domestic and foreign institutional flows return and their robust cash flows, operational scale, and institutional backing provide an essential fundamental moat.He further said that mid-caps may require stock-specific elements to perform, as many names went up significantly during the previous bull cycle; small caps should be approached with high caution and patience, as they remain prone to sharp liquidity outflows during market corrections. โLimit small-cap exposure if you can handle the volatility and have a longer time horizon of 7-10 years for mid and small caps.โLara said that small caps appear to have the most room for upside when markets recover. Currently, Nifty Smallcap 250 is trading about 17.4% below its fair value, compared with 9.6% for the Nifty Midcap 150 and around 5-9% for large-cap indices. Hence, small caps have corrected more than large caps and mid caps relative to their earnings potential.He further said that investors can have a balanced exposure across market caps, with 55% in large caps and the rest in mid and small caps to be a part of the eventual recovery that will follow in the markets.BSE Sensex: In the last six months, the index was down 13.38% and in the nine months, it was down 8.01%. In the last one year, Sensex was down 8.83% whereas in the last three years and five years it was up 5.74% and 7.33% respectively.Sector allocation becomes particularly important during market corrections as valuation gaps emerge across industries. The question is whether investors should actively target beaten-down sectors or focus on broader diversification.In response to this, Lara said investors should avoid investing in single sectors or making sectoral bets as performance in sectors/themes is highly cyclical. For example, in 2024, the pharma & IT sectors were part of the best-performing sectors, however, they both turned into worst-performing sectors in 2025, which suggest that entry and exit at the right time play a crucial role in making investments in the sectorial/thematic funds.Also Read |HDFC Mutual Fund limits subscription in its gold ETF and FoF. What this means for investors? During such corrections, it would be more beneficial for investors to invest in diversified categories of equity mutual funds to get exposure to all sectors and benefit from their performance, rather than focusing solely on any single sector, Lara further said.Dhawan said to prioritize accumulating high-quality banking and financial services funds as these segments offer good earnings visibility, corrected price multiples, and fundamentally strong underlying balance sheets.He further said systematic accumulation of Information Technology (IT) funds could be attributed to these deep valuation resets as they are cash-rich franchises with low debt. However, they do face business model risk. Conversely, stay away from Utilities and capital goods as valuations look well above their long term averages.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.
JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha said Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal scuttled a consensus plan to make Nitish Kumar the bloc's convenor, exposing a lack of trust within the grouping
Shares of Tata Steel fell 2% to Rs 202 on the BSE on Monday amid reports that it may have to push back the commissioning timeline of its 1.25-billion-pound low-carbon steel project in the UK by six to eight months due to delays in obtaining access to the required electricity infrastructure.The company is building a 3.2 million-tonne electric arc furnace (EAF) at Port Talbot as part of its decarbonisation strategy. The project, which involves an investment of 1.25 billion pounds, is intended to replace the site's blast furnace operations of similar capacity that have now been shut down.Before the latest setback, Tata Steel had been targeting the start of operations by late 2027 or early 2028. However, delays linked to the power connection process have created uncertainty around that timeline, a news report by PTI stated. Koushik Chatterjee, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Tata Steel, said the company has been working with the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and National Grid on the new electrical infrastructure. However, National Grid has formally informed Tata Steel that its connectivity project is running behind schedule.According to Chatterjee, National Grid has flagged potential delays compared with the originally planned date for the high-voltage power connection. He said Tata Steel is engaging with all stakeholders, including the UK government, to minimise the impact and establish revised timelines, the report added. The company said major demolition work at the Port Talbot site has already been completed, while fabrication and delivery of equipment continue to progress. Access to higher-capacity electricity remains a critical requirement for the transition to electric arc furnace-based steelmaking.The project has secured 500 million pounds of support from the UK government and is expected to cut site-level carbon dioxide emissions by 90%, equivalent to around 5 million tonnes annually. Separately, the Port Talbot project site witnessed a fire incident on June 3. Tata Steel UK said on Thursday that all personnel were safely evacuated and accounted for, with no injuries reported. Chatterjee said Tata Steel is continuing discussions with National Grid and the UK government to address the issue and explore ways to reduce the delay."We are working with the UK government, the National Grid and ESO, which is the electricity supplier, to see if we can mitigate it, but somewhere between six months to eight months will certainly be there, maybe higher, after we have built the plant," he said while responding to a question on potential delays in commissioning the facility.He added that the company is evaluating options to shorten the delay but acknowledged that some slippage in timelines now appears unavoidable. "We are actively working to see if we can reduce it further, but there will be some imminent delays," Chatterjee said, without providing additional details.In May 2024, Tata Steel signed a connection offer agreement with the Electricity System Operator. Under the arrangement, National Grid is responsible for building the electrical infrastructure required to power the 3.2 million-tonne electric arc furnace by the end of 2027.According to information shared by Tata Steel, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) is a public body that oversees the connection process, including the connection contract with Tata Steel UK, and manages electricity grid operations across the UK.National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), meanwhile, is the private company responsible for constructing, owning and maintaining the connection infrastructure.Tata Steel Group is among the world's leading steelmakers, with an annual crude steel production capacity of 35 million tonnes. The company also ranks among the most geographically diversified steel producers globally.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Wealth managers believe retail investors in gold mutual fund schemes will not be affected, after three large asset management companies announced restrictions on purchase of large quantities of gold by investors.Three AMCs namely HDFC MF, ICICI Prudential MF and Nippon Life India AMC have announced temporary restrictions on their gold schemes. All three AMCs announced subscription transactions of large investors who directly transact with them and invest a minimum of 25 crore will not be accepted. In addition, in the case of both HDFC Gold ETF FoF and Nippon India Gold Savings Fund, lump sum purchases will be restricted to a limit of 10 lakh per month. Also for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund, SIPs or STPs will continue with a limit of 50,000 per investor per day.โRestrictions will apply only to large investors, while AMCs will continue to create units for market makers, without any restrictions,โ said a ETF head at a domestic fund house. As units are created, there will be enough liquidity available to investors who can buy and sell these units at prevailing market prices.Wealth managers believe the current move by fund houses is in line with the prime minister's message to reduce overall imports.โThis is an attempt to slow down purchase of gold and reduce pressure in imports, after the strong inflows into the yellow metal over the last one year,โ says Saket Kumar, Co-Founder, ETF Junction.Gold has been one of the best performing assets in recent times, and saw a sharp run up returning 56.08% in the last one year, while over a three year period it returned an annualized 35.89%. However over the last three months it lost 3.59%.โWith prices stabilizing over the last three months, there is no longer a frenzy to buy gold. Most investors now allocate 5-10% to the yellow metal in line with their asset allocation largely through SIPs,โ says Nikhil Gupta, Founder, Sage Capital.Gold ETFs saw net sales of 71,914 crore in the last 12 months and mutual funds now managed gold assets worth 1.78 lakh crore as of April 30, 2026, a rise of 290% in the last 1 year.
A police sub-inspector and four associates allegedly stormed a Dehradun polytechnic college, vandalizing property and threatening staff after his son was caught cheating. CCTV footage captured both the cheating incident and the subsequent alleged assault. Both parties have filed FIRs, and the SI has been suspended pending investigation.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has once again championed the humble idli, this time critiquing a viral post pairing it with chai. While a self-proclaimed chai enthusiast, Tharoor advocates for enjoying both delicacies separately, emphasizing the ideal fluffy texture of an idli. He previously defended idli against comparisons to rasgulla, highlighting its sophisticated fermentation process.
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has begun, and football fans around the world are preparing for what promises to be the largest edition of the tournament ever staged. For the first time in the competition's history, three nationsโthe United States, Canada and Mexicoโwill jointly host the World Cup, bringing the sport's biggest event to North America on an unprecedented scale.The tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026 (June 12 to July 20 as per Indian time), will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the traditional 32-team format. With 104 matches spread across 16 host cities, the World Cup is expected to attract millions of spectators and generate a festival atmosphere across the continent.From iconic football grounds steeped in history to ultra-modern arenas equipped with cutting-edge technology, the host venues reflect the diversity and ambition of FIFA's vision for the 2026 tournament.FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities and StadiumsThe FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to make history as the biggest edition of the tournament ever staged. Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the competition will feature 48 teams competing across 16 host cities and some of North America's most iconic stadiums.From Mexico City's legendary Estadio Azteca to the ultra-modern SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, each venue brings its own unique story, architecture and football heritage. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with matches spread across three nations and a diverse range of world-class stadiums.Host CityStadiumCountryCapacityNew York/New JerseyMetLife StadiumUnited States82,500Dallas (Arlington)AT&T StadiumUnited States94,000AtlantaMercedes-Benz StadiumUnited States75,000HoustonNRG StadiumUnited States72,000Kansas CityArrowhead StadiumUnited States73,000Los AngelesSoFi StadiumUnited States70,000MiamiHard Rock StadiumUnited States65,000PhiladelphiaLincoln Financial FieldUnited States69,000SeattleLumen FieldUnited States69,000BostonGillette StadiumUnited States65,000San Francisco Bay AreaLevi's StadiumUnited States71,000TorontoBMO FieldCanada45,000VancouverBC PlaceCanada54,000Mexico CityEstadio AztecaMexico83,000GuadalajaraEstadio AkronMexico48,000MonterreyEstadio BBVAMexico53,500FIFA Canada VenuesCanada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, with both cities playing a key role in the expanded tournament.Toronto โ BMO Field (Capacity: 45,000)BMO Field is one of the few purpose-built soccer stadiums among the World Cup venues. Opened in 2007, it previously hosted matches during the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and is home to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.The stadium will stage six matches, including Canada's opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12, along with a Round of 32 fixture.Vancouver โ BC Place (Capacity: 54,000)Located on Vancouver's waterfront, BC Place is widely regarded as one of the most scenic venues in the tournament. Opened in 1983, the stadium is home to the Vancouver Whitecaps and the BC Lions.The venue also played a major role during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosting the final where the United States defeated Japan. BC Place will host seven matches, including two knockout-round encounters.FIFA Mexico VenuesMexico will host games in three cities, each boasting a rich football culture and passionate fan base.Mexico City โ Estadio Azteca (Capacity: 83,000)Few stadiums can match the legacy of Estadio Azteca. Opened in 1966, it hosted the World Cup finals of 1970 and 1986 and witnessed unforgettable moments from legends such as Pele and Diego Maradona.In 2026, the stadium will become the first venue in history to host matches in three different FIFA World Cups. It will also stage the tournament opener on June 11 when Mexico takes on South Africa.Guadalajara โ Estadio Akron (Capacity: 48,000)Recognized for its distinctive volcano-inspired design, Estadio Akron is among the most visually striking stadiums selected for the tournament.Since opening in 2010, the venue has hosted major events including the Copa Libertadores final and the Pan American Games ceremonies. Four group-stage matches will be played here, including Spain's clash against Uruguay.Monterrey โ Estadio BBVA (Capacity: 53,500)Nicknamed "El Gigante de Acero" or "The Steel Giant," Estadio BBVA combines modern architecture with breathtaking mountain views.The stadium, which opened in 2015, is regarded as one of Mexico's finest football venues and will host four matches during the World Cup.FIFA United States VenuesThe United States will host matches in 11 cities, featuring some of the largest and most technologically advanced stadiums in the world.Dallas โ AT&T Stadium (Capacity: 94,000)The largest venue of the tournament, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, can accommodate around 94,000 spectators. Home to the Dallas Cowboys, the stadium has previously hosted Super Bowls, major boxing events and international football matches.It will stage nine World Cup games, including a semi-final.New York/New Jersey โ MetLife Stadium (Capacity: 82,500)MetLife Stadium will be the centerpiece of the tournament, hosting eight matches, including a semi-final and the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19.Home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, the venue has previously welcomed major football events such as the Copa America Centenario final and the Club World Cup final.Atlanta โ Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Capacity: 75,000)Known for its retractable roof and massive 360-degree video display, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is considered one of the world's most advanced sports venues.The stadium will host eight matches, including one of the two semi-finals.Los Angeles โ SoFi Stadium (Capacity: 70,000)Often described as one of the most expensive stadiums ever built, SoFi Stadium reportedly cost around $6 billion. Home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, it will host eight matches, including the first World Cup game played on U.S. soil.Other Key U.S. VenuesSeveral other American stadiums will play important roles during the tournament:Gillette Stadium, Boston (65,000): Seven matches, including a quarter-final.NRG Stadium, Houston (72,000): Features a retractable roof and steep spectator stands.Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (73,000): Famous as one of the loudest sports venues in the world.Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (65,000): Hosts seven matches and has extensive experience staging major football events.Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (69,000): Hosts six matches, including a fixture on U.S. Independence Day celebrations.Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (71,000): Home of the San Francisco 49ers and a frequent host of major international sporting events.Lumen Field, Seattle (69,000): Renowned for passionate crowds and will host six matches, including knockout-round fixtures.A Tournament of Historic ScaleWith 16 host cities, 48 participating nations and a record number of matches, FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be unlike any previous edition. The combination of historic venues such as Estadio Azteca and modern architectural marvels like SoFi Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium highlights the blend of tradition and innovation that will define the tournament.As preparations continue across North America, football fans can look forward to a month-long celebration of the world's most popular sport in some of the most spectacular stadiums ever assembled for a FIFA World Cup.
Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project has ignited a major interstate dispute with Tamil Nadu, creating a political dilemma for the Congress party. Both states, now under Congress rule, are at odds over water sharing, exposing deep regional tensions and challenging the party's unity.
When Chinese authorities detained Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti in January 2014, his daughter Jewher Ilham was preparing for a future she believed would include both her family and her father's work promoting dialogue between Uyghurs and Han Chinese. โInstead, Tohti was sentenced later that year to life imprisonment on separatism-related charges.
While warning about the risk of a looming oil shock, Groww Mutual Fundโs equity chief, CA Anupam Tiwari, says multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in this market.Although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent, he says in an interview with ET Markets.Edited excerpts from a chat:Markets have recovered from recent corrections despite geopolitical tensions. What is the market pricing that investors may be underestimating?Markets are showing signs of recovery from the fall due to the prospects of de-escalation and continued talks regarding the resolution of the Middle East crisis. Nevertheless, one possible threat that investors might be overlooking is the possibility of prolonged geopolitical instability that can cause oil prices to remain elevated for an extended period.Sustained higher energy prices could have broader implications for inflation, currency stability, corporate profitability, and economic growth. While markets appear to be pricing in a relatively benign outcome, any disruption that results in persistently elevated crude prices could have a more meaningful impact on the macroeconomic environment than is currently reflected in markets.With valuations still elevated in parts of the market, how should investors think about allocating money across large-, mid- and small-cap stocks today?Broad concerns regarding valuation levels in the market have cooled off in recent months. At the current juncture, close to one-third of the mid-cap space is priced below its five-year average valuation levels, whereas nearly half of the small-cap space is trading below its own five-year average valuation levels.Under these circumstances, although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent. Here, a multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in uncovering better businesses.The multicap category has seen rising investor interest. What advantages does a multicap strategy offer in the current market environment compared to pure large-cap or mid-cap approaches?While the current phase is marked by heightened volatility, volatility is often uneven across segments. In such an environment, a multicap strategy may provide disciplined exposure across market caps within a single portfolio.This allows investors the relative stability and earnings visibility of larger companies, while also participating in the long-term growth potential of mid- and small-cap businesses. By maintaining exposure across segments, a multicap approach can help reduce over-reliance on any single category and provide a more balanced way to navigate changing market conditions.One of the key benefits of a multicap strategy is that it removes the burden of market-cap allocation from investors. Determining when to allocate across segments can be challenging, particularly as market leadership often shifts across cycles. A multicap strategy addresses this by embedding this decision within a disciplined investment framework, freeing investors from having to make often difficult and timing-sensitive allocation calls.From a long-term perspective, multicap funds can serve as a core equity allocation for investors, enabling investors to participate in India's growth story through a combination of established market leaders and emerging businesses.Many retail investors continue to favour mid- and small-caps despite recent volatility. Is the risk-reward equation still attractive in these segments?While mid- and small-cap stocks are generally more exposed during periods of market volatility, the opportunity set within these segments has improved as valuations have moderated across several pockets of the market while business fundamentals have remained intact and even improved in several pockets.Rather than looking at mid and small caps as segments, investors should focus on a disciplined investment framework. Selective opportunities continue to exist despite volatility, making active stock selection increasingly important in determining outcomes.Which sectors currently offer the strongest earnings visibility, and where are you finding opportunities despite market volatility?We continue to focus on sectors where earnings visibility remains relatively strong despite broader market volatility. Financials remain a key area of interest, supported by reasonable valuations, stable asset quality, improving credit growth, and a favorable funding environment, particularly within select NBFCs and mid-sized financial institutions.Within industrials, we remain constructive on themes such as power transmission & distribution, renewable energy, and defence, where order books remain healthy and policy support continues to drive long-term demand. In the auto space, we continue to see opportunities linked to premium consumption trends, EV adoption, and select auto-component manufacturers benefiting from structural drivers such as exports, and regulatory and policy changes.We are also positive on specialty chemicals, particularly businesses with strong contract manufacturing franchises, niche product portfolios, and long-term customer relationships. If you had to allocate fresh money today, which market-cap segment would receive the highest allocation and why?Our equity investment philosophy, QGaRP (Quality and Growth at a Reasonable Price), is market-cap agnostic and driven primarily by stock selection rather than segment-level calls. We seek to invest in businesses that combine high quality management, growth potential, and valuation comfort.That said, our multicap strategy has historically maintained a growth-oriented tilt towards mid- and small-cap companies. With valuations having moderated across several pockets of the mid- and small-cap universe, we believe the environment has become more conducive in these segments for active stock selection.As a result, while we continue to maintain a diversified allocation across market caps, we remain constructive on selectively identifying opportunities within the mid- and small-cap space where fundamentals, growth prospects, and valuations are aligned with our philosophy.
Veteran actress Rakhee Gulzar has defended Aamir Khan's upcoming wedding to Gauri Spratt, scheduled for July 5, 2026, asking "what is wrong with marrying at 60?" The actor, who confirmed the news himself, was previously married to Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, and shares three children between both marriages.
US and Israel have long been aware that both countries collect intelligence on each other
The Indian stock market ended last week in the red, with analysts flagging multiple factors that could keep pressure on Sensex and Nifty when trading resumes on Monday.On Friday, the Sensex closed 117 points lower at 74,243, while the Nifty 50 declined 50 points to settle at 23,367. Among the top laggards on the Sensex were Trent, TCS, Tata Steel, NTPC, HCL Tech, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Reliance Industries, with losses of 1-2%.Here are five key factors likely to drive the stock market in the week ahead.1) Weak global cuesWall Street ended sharply lower on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq plunging more than 4% to log its steepest single-day decline since April 2025, after a stronger-than-expected US jobs report fuelled concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer.The Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4.2%, dragged down by a more than 6% slide in Nvidia and an almost 8% drop in Broadcom. Broadcomโs weaker-than-expected guidance heightened concerns that AI-driven demand may not expand as rapidly as markets had anticipated. The Dow Jones fell 1.4%, while the S&P 500 dropped nearly 3%.European markets closed mixed, while Asian equities ended broadly lower. Japanโs Nikkei 225 and Hong Kongโs Hang Seng declined more than 1%, while South Koreaโs Kospi plunged nearly 6%. Chinaโs Shanghai Composite also ended about 1% lower.Also read: Why did Nasdaq plunge 4% to log worst day in over a year2) RBI policy impactReserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced that the central bankโs Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, as it assessed the impact of rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict. The RBI also increased the investment limit for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) in equity instruments.Indian equity markets are likely to remain range-bound next week amid a mix of domestic and global triggers, according to Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management, at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.โWhile the Reserve Bank of Indiaโs measures to attract foreign capital and the governmentโs tax relief for foreign investors in government securities could support sentiment, we expect market movement to be driven largely by bottom-up stock picking and sector-specific action in the near term,โ he said.Khemka noted that the central bank raised its FY27 inflation forecast to 5.1% and lowered its FY27 GDP growth projection to 6.6%, reinforcing concerns over energy prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weather-related uncertainties.โIf inflationary pressures remain elevated and external risks persist, the possibility of a future monetary tightening cycle could increase, keeping investors cautious. Going forward, investors will closely track energy prices, developments in the West Asia conflict, monsoon progress, FII flows and the impact of RBIโs policy measures for further market direction,โ he added.3) FII selling continuesForeign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the Indian market during the first week of June, offloading shares worth Rs 31,120 crore, according to Pabitro Mukherjee, Deputy Vice President โ Research at Bajaj Broking. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), meanwhile, continued to provide support as net buyers.โInvestor sentiment remained subdued amid persistent geopolitical tensions, which kept crude oil prices elevated. Heightened global uncertainty, coupled with prevailing macroeconomic challenges, led to cautious market participation. Going forward, institutional flows are likely to remain highly sensitive to developments in US-Iran relations and movements in oil prices,โ he said.4) Iran-US tensions US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday after intercepting drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said. Reuters, citing a US official, reported that the military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic. US Central Command said on X that it subsequently struck Iranโs surveillance sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island, both located along the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Iranโs Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the strikes and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission. The developments renewed concerns over escalating tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.Also read: GIFT Nifty tumbles 1.5% as US stock market plunges. Will Dalal Street crash on Monday?5) Bond yields Rising inflation concerns pushed US Treasury yields higher. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, which is highly sensitive to expectations around Federal Reserve policy, climbed to a 15-month high. Elevated interest rates typically make bonds more attractive relative to equities, weighing on stock market sentiment.Technical view on NiftyThe benchmark Nifty index ended lower for the second consecutive week, reflecting the cautious undertone prevailing in the market, said Sudeep Shah, Head of Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.According to Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, Nifty 50 has been moving within a defined range as markets digest the RBIโs policy announcement. He noted that sentiment remains weak, with the index continuing to trade below key moving averages. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) also remains subdued, indicating a lack of positive momentum.โIn the near term, the index is likely to consolidate within the 23,300โ23,500 range. A decisive breakout above 23,500 could trigger an upmove towards 25,700 and beyond, while a break below the 23,300 support level may result in a sharper correction,โ he said.(With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)