GIFT City is already home to a total of 229 alternative investment funds (AIFs) and venture capital (VC) funds, shows the January-March bulletin of the International Financial Services Centres Authority—the regulator for offshore finance. The majority of these funds are inbound, allowing non-resident Indians (NRIs) and foreigners to invest in India, with assets worth $5.7…
In today’s fast-paced world, credit is woven into our daily lives. Whether it’s upgrading to a new phone, planning a spontaneous getaway, or investing in personal development, credit enables us to act without delay. But what really drives our financial choices? The key lies in understanding the psychology of spending—how emotions, habits, and mental shortcuts…
After slashing the repo rate in the past three monetary policy committee (MPC) meets, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5 percent on Wednesday. As we know, repo rate and interest rates go hand in hand. This means when the RBI cuts the repo rate, banks typically follow suit by…
IDFC FIRST Bank has disrupted the Indian credit card market by offering interest rates starting as low as 8.5% per annum (0.71% per annum), this figure is significantly below the industry average of 34-46%. The move is aimed at making credit more attractive and accessible with dynamic Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) tailored to each customer’s…
In early 2024, the Federal Reserve paused its anticipated interest-rate cuts in response to stronger-than-expected economic data. Then sticky inflation, geopolitical risks, and record-high U.S. government debt pressured bond prices, increasing volatility and undermining the traditional role of fixed-income as a portfolio stabilizer. With fixed income mostly not behaving as expected, we’ve heard from advisors…
When comparing mutual fund schemes within the same category, most investors look no further than return figures to make their choice. But the truth is, returns are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath that lies a rich layer of data that paints the true picture, like portfolio concentration, market cap allocation, churn ratio, cash…
In a shocking case of yet another loan scam, a 56-year-old man from Delhi employed a new trick in the fraud playbook by posing as a loan agent and deceiving people through fake pamphlets. Praveen Kumar was arrested on August 2, 2025, in northwest Delhi’s Shastri Nagar, after luring unsuspecting victims with the promise of…
Debt collection often carries a negative connotation, frequently associated with pressure tactics or aggressive recovery methods. However, this perception does not reflect the evolved reality of collections in the modern financial ecosystem. The practice of collections and recovery has undergone a significant transformation, from being viewed merely as a means of recovering overdue payments to…
If you are planning to open a fixed deposit (FD) with a bank, it is important to first compare the interest rates offered by different banks. Typically, banks offer a 50 basis point higher interest rate to senior citizens. It is vital to note that the market is witnessing a declining interest rate cycle after the Reserve…
With benchmark indices – Nifty50 and S&P BSE Sensex – being down on Tuesday after a day of hiatus, stock markets closed lower in three of the past four sessions. Because of Trump’s tariffs, the Indian stock market is expected to stay rangebound in August, said Jashan Arora, Director at Master Trust Group, in a Livemint interview. He…
