Finance

Think back to the day you bought your policy. You probably signed a stack of forms, paid the first premium and filed the papers away for good. That’s normal. The catch is that term life insurance covers you only for a fixed period, either a set number of years or up to a chosen age, and the final day arrives whether you’re ready or not. It’s far easier to plan for it now than to panic later.

A 27-year-old techie worries about supporting his father’s retirement after the 58-year-old reportedly reaches the end of his career with no savings.

Indian Bank has raised rates on its 555-day and 777-day FDs after the RBI’s repo rate hike, while major banks retain varied offers.

EPFO may discuss raising the minimum monthly pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500 at its November 19 board meeting, but no hike is approved yet.

Indonesia plans to raise up to $1.5 billion through Chinese yuan bonds, but rupiah depreciation could erode the apparent savings from lower interest rates.

Zerodha has opened US stocks and ETFs to eligible Indian investors through Kite, offering global diversification while introducing currency, cost and tax considerations.

8th Pay Commission arrears could lift India’s FY28 consumption through higher household spending, but payment dates and amounts remain unconfirmed.

IRDAI is considering requests to extend the October 25 deadline for insurance distribution reforms as brokers seek more time to assess commission caps and costs.

Bajaj Finance’s gold-loan book doubled to ₹24,195 crore, but the lender discontinued short-tenure schemes after repayment delays increased Stage 2 assets.

Japan’s exports grew 16.7% in September, driven by semiconductor demand and car shipments, despite missing market forecasts.

Donald Trump says the US and India are close to a trade deal as officials continue talks on tariffs, market access and economic cooperation.

Central government employees await the July 2026 DA revision, with a possible rise from 60% to 63% still awaiting official confirmation.

The 8th Pay Commission may revise basic pay and allowances. Here is how each could affect monthly income, tax liability and retirement security.

China says it is ready to address mutual trade concerns after Nirmala Sitharaman flags India’s widening trade deficit and market-access barriers.

Choosing a Forex Broker in India: 4 Key Facts Traders Need to Know India’s foreign exchange and money markets have doubled over a four-year period, reaching a new market value of $60 billion recently. Investors’ interest in online trading continues to grow throughout the country as more people explore financial markets through digital platforms. Choosing a forex broker requires careful research, especially because India has specific regulations governing foreign exchange transactions. For example, resident individuals are legally permitted to trade rupee-denominated currency derivative pairs on recognized domestic exchanges. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, knowing the basics of forex trading in India can influence your trading experience, costs, and ability to manage risk. What You Need to Know Before You Choose an Indian Forex Broker Check the Broker’s Reputation and Reviews A broker’s reputation is one of the key first considerations for registering. Researching the broker’s history, customer service, trading conditions, and feedback from existing users can help you find a trusted platform. Independent review platforms like Trustpilot can help you understand other customers’ experiences. You may also want to pay attention to comments about withdrawals, account verification, customer support, and unexpected fees. Indian forex traders can also explore international platforms like AMarkets, which has received quite a lot of positive recommendations from previous reviewers. Understand India’s Forex Trading Regulations The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) oversee different aspects of the country’s financial markets. Indian residents must ensure that their proposed forex transactions comply with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Currency derivatives can be traded through recognised Indian exchanges using appropriately registered brokers, subject to applicable rules. However, overseas platforms offering leveraged spot forex or contracts for difference (CFDs) are not automatically authorised to serve Indian residents. Compare Trading Costs and Fees Trading costs like spreads, commissions, overnight financing charges, deposit fees, and withdrawal costs can affect profitability, especially for people who place frequent trades. Some brokers advertise low spreads but charge additional commissions, while others incorporate more of their costs into the spread. Understanding these expenses beforehand can help you avoid unpleasant surprises. Review Customer Support and Withdrawal Policies Reliable customer support is essential when account verification, payment processing, or technical problems arise. Traders should check whether the broker offers accessible support channels, including email, live chat, or telephone assistance, and try to review its published response times and investigate how complaints are handled. A trustworthy service should communicate its terms clearly and provide transparent information about account management. Choosing a forex broker in India involves more than just finding an attractive trading app or a platform with positive online reviews. Traders should examine six essential factors: reputation, regulatory compliance, app functionality, trading costs, customer support, and risk management. Platforms like AMarkets may appear during your research, but popularity and favourable reviews should never replace independent verification of regulatory status and eligibility for Indian residents. Making the smartest trading decision begins with careful research, understanding the applicable regulations, protecting your capital, and choosing services that are legally available for your intended trading activities.

IRDAI Chairman Ajay Seth says the regulator is open to suggestions on commission reforms and aims to avoid disrupting insurance agents’ livelihoods.

Would you prefer gaining exposure to several small-cap companies through a single investment or pick individual stocks yourself? Both these approaches offer access to smaller businesses with untapped growth potential. But the risk you take is structured in different ways.

Partial EPF withdrawals generally do not reset service history, but withdrawing the accumulated corpus before five years may trigger tax.

Wipro’s Q2 profit fell 4.5% sequentially to Rs 3,200 crore, while Persistent Systems’ revenue rose 8.4% and HDFC Life’s profit grew 16.5%.

Silver and gold are often grouped together, but their prices do not always behave the same way. The first one can rise or fall more sharply, sometimes within a relatively short period. That can make the metal interesting for investors, but it also means beginners need to understand what is moving the market.