Market Valuation Overview - The combined market valuation of seven of the top-10 most valued firms increased by ₹74,573.63 crore in a holiday-shortened week, with HDFC Bank being the largest gainer [1] - The BSE benchmark rose by 780.71 points or 0.97%, while the Nifty increased by 239.55 points or 0.97% [1] Gainers and Losers - HDFC Bank's market valuation increased by ₹30,106.28 crore, reaching ₹14,81,889.57 crore [2] - LIC's market capitalisation jumped by ₹20,587.87 crore to ₹5,72,507.17 crore [2] - State Bank of India's valuation surged by ₹9,276.77 crore to ₹8,00,340.70 crore [3] - Hindustan Unilever's market valuation climbed by ₹7,859.38 crore to ₹5,97,806.50 crore [3] - ICICI Bank's market capitalisation edged higher by ₹3,108.17 crore to ₹9,75,115.85 crore [3] - Bajaj Finance's valuation increased by ₹2,893.45 crore to ₹6,15,808.18 crore [3] - TCS's market valuation rallied by ₹741.71 crore to ₹10,50,023.27 crore [3] Valuation Erosion - Reliance Industries experienced a valuation decline of ₹19,351.44 crore, with a total valuation of ₹18,45,084.98 crore [3] - Bharti Airtel's market capitalisation decreased by ₹12,031.45 crore to ₹10,80,891.08 crore [4] - Infosys saw a dip in its valuation by ₹850.32 crore, bringing its total to ₹6,00,954.93 crore [4] Ranking of Valued Firms - Reliance Industries remains the most valued domestic firm, followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, TCS, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, and LIC [4]

Group 1: Monetary Policy and Interest Rates - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% during its October 1, 2025 Monetary Policy Committee meeting, following a total reduction of 100 basis points (bps) this year [1][11] - Banks and small finance banks may still lower interest rates on fixed deposits (FDs) as the transition from previous repo rate cuts is ongoing [1][11] Group 2: Fixed Deposit Rates for Senior Citizens - Utkarsh Small Finance Bank is offering an 8.15% interest rate on its three-year FD for senior citizens [11] - Slice Small Finance Bank provides a 7.75% interest rate on FDs with a tenure of 18 months and 1 day to 3 years for senior citizens [11] - Jana Small Finance Bank offers an 8% interest rate on its 2-3 year FDs for senior citizens [11] - Shivalik Small Finance Bank is providing a 7.50% interest rate on its three-year FD tenure for senior citizens [11] Group 3: Fixed Deposit Rates Across Different Banks - The highest FD rates among small finance banks include 8.4% from Suryoday Small Finance Bank for a 5-year tenure and 8.1% from ESAF Small Finance Bank for a 444-day tenure [7][8] - Private sector banks offer varying FD rates, with Axis Bank at 7.10%, Bandhan Bank at 7.50%, and YES Bank at 7.75% for a 3-year tenure [9] - Public sector banks have FD rates ranging from 6.50% at Punjab & Sind Bank to 7.10% at Union Bank of India for a 3-year tenure [10][11]

Core Points - All public and private banks in India, except in Gangtok, will be open on Saturday, October 1, as it is the first Saturday of the month with no bank holiday [1] - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) designates bank holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays each month, with exceptions for the first, third, and fifth Saturdays [2] - Banks are also closed on national holidays and for certain religious and regional observances, which vary by state [3] Remaining Bank Holidays in October - October 4: Bank holiday in Gangtok for Durga Puja (Dasain) [6] - October 5: Bank holiday pan-India for Sunday weekly off [6] - October 6: Banks closed in Agartala and Kolkata for Lakshmi Puja [6] - October 7: Banks closed in multiple cities for Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti / Kumar Purnima [6] - October 10: Bank holiday in Shimla for Karva Chauth [6] - October 11: Banks closed pan-India for second Saturday weekly off [6] - October 12: Banks closed pan-India for Sunday weekly off [6] - October 18: Bank holiday in Guwahati for Kati Bihu [6] - October 19: Banks closed pan-India for Sunday weekly off [6] - October 20: Banks closed in multiple cities for Diwali and related observances [6] - October 21: Banks closed in several cities for Diwali Amavasya [6] - October 22: Banks closed in various cities for multiple Diwali celebrations [6] - October 23: Bank holiday in several cities for Bhai Bij and related observances [6] - October 25: Banks closed pan-India for fourth Saturday weekly off [6] - October 26: Banks closed pan-India for Sunday weekly off [6] - October 27: Banks closed in Kolkata, Patna, and Ranchi for Chath Puja [6] - October 28: Banks closed in Patna and Ranchi for Chath Puja [6] - October 31: Banks closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday [6] Banking Services on Holidays - ATM services remain operational 24/7 during bank holidays for cash withdrawals and other requirements [7] - Online banking services such as NEFT, IMPS, and RTGS are available for money transfers on bank holidays [7] - UPI services are functional on bank holidays for sending and receiving money [7]

The central bank's commentary at Wednesday's monetary policy meeting, economists said, suggest the "A December cut is going to be very conditional," US President Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic adviser, Live EventsOn Wednesday, the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.50%, with governor Sanjay Malhotra acknowledging space for easing to further support growth.There has also been a notable change in the language with the MPC saying that "sobering of inflatio ...

Core Points - Banks across India are closed on October 2 due to multiple festivals including Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra [1][2] - There are a total of 21 bank holidays in India throughout the month of October, influenced by various festivals and weekly offs [2] Bank Holidays in October - October 1: Banks closed in several cities for Navratri End and related festivals [4] - October 2: Nationwide bank holiday for Gandhi Jayanti and other festivals [4] - October 3: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [4] - October 4: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [4] - October 5: Nationwide bank holiday for Sunday [4] - October 6: Banks closed in Agartala and Kolkata for Lakshmi Puja [4] - October 7: Banks closed in multiple cities for Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti [4] - October 10: Banks closed in Shimla for Karva Chauth [4] - October 11: Nationwide bank holiday for second Saturday [4] - October 12: Nationwide bank holiday for Sunday [4] - October 18: Banks closed in Guwahati for Kati Bihu [4] - October 19: Nationwide bank holiday for Sunday [4] - October 20: Banks closed in multiple cities for Diwali and related festivals [4] - October 21: Banks closed in several cities for Diwali Amavasya [4] - October 22: Banks closed in various cities for Diwali and related festivals [4] - October 23: Banks closed in multiple cities for Bhai Bij and related festivals [4] - October 25: Nationwide bank holiday for fourth Saturday [4] - October 26: Nationwide bank holiday for Sunday [4] - October 27: Banks closed in Kolkata, Patna, and Ranchi for Chath Puja [6] - October 28: Banks closed in Patna and Ranchi for Chath Puja [6] - October 31: Banks closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday [6] Emergency Services During Bank Holidays - ATM services remain operational 24/7 during bank holidays for cash withdrawals and other needs [5] - Online banking services such as NEFT, IMPS, and RTGS are available for money transfers on bank holidays [5] - UPI services can be used for sending and receiving money even on bank holidays [5]

Core Viewpoint - The Indian market has underperformed compared to the US and other emerging markets, presenting a long-term equity investment opportunity as it trades at a 49% PE premium to the EM index, which is attractive historically [2][3] Market Performance - Year-to-date, the Indian market has lagged behind the US and other emerging markets, with a notable 49% PE premium to the EM index, down from a peak of 97% in September 2024 [2] - Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) have invested $65.2 billion in the Indian market, while Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have sold $17.4 billion, indicating a shift towards domestic investment [2] Investment Strategy - The focus remains on "Growth at a Reasonable Price," emphasizing quality stocks, monopolies, and market leaders in domestic sectors [1][3] - A cautious stance is maintained on export-oriented sectors due to tariff concerns and macroeconomic uncertainties [3] Sector Preferences - The market outlook favors sectors such as BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), Telecom, Consumption, Hospitals, and interest-rate proxies [3] - Positive views are held on retail consumption plays and certain capex-oriented stocks that show growth visibility for FY26 [3] Stock Recommendations - Recent changes in top picks include booking profits in Varun Beverages and adding Mahanagar Gas, reflecting a preference for growth at reasonable prices [4] - Recommended stocks include HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, Avenue Supermarts, State Bank of India, Lupin, Hero Motocorp, Max Healthcare, Kirloskar Brothers, Kalpataru Projects, APL Apollo Tubes, Mahanagar Gas, Bharti Airtel, Prestige Estates, and Sansera Engineering [5]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of comparing interest rates from different banks before opening a term deposit, particularly highlighting that long-term deposits generally offer higher interest rates than short-term ones [1][2]. Interest Rates Offered by Banks - HDFC Bank offers 6.45% interest on a three-year fixed deposit, 6.25% on a one-year deposit, and 6.45% on a two-year deposit, effective from June 25, 2025. Senior citizens receive an additional 50 basis points [3]. - ICICI Bank provides 6.6% interest on three-year fixed deposits for general depositors and 7.1% for senior depositors, with one-year and two-year deposits earning 6.25% and 6.4%, respectively [4]. - Kotak Mahindra Bank offers 6.4% interest on three-year fixed deposits for general citizens and 6.90% for senior citizens, with one-year and two-year deposits at 6.25% and 6.4%, respectively, effective from August 20 [5]. - Federal Bank offers 6.4% on one-year, 6.5% on two-year, and 6.5% on three-year fixed deposits, effective from August 18, 2025 [7]. - State Bank of India (SBI) provides 6.3% interest on three-year fixed deposits for regular citizens and 6.8% for senior citizens, with one-year and two-year deposits earning 6.25% and 6.45%, respectively, effective from July 15, 2025 [7]. - Bank of Baroda offers 6.50% interest on three-year fixed deposits for regular citizens and 7% for senior citizens, with one-year and two-year deposits at 6.25% and 6.5%, effective from September 12 [8]. - Union Bank of India provides 6.6% interest on three-year term deposits for regular citizens and 7.1% for senior citizens, with one-year and two-year deposits at 6.4% and 6.5%, respectively, effective from August 20, 2025 [9]. Summary of Interest Rates for Senior Citizens - HDFC Bank: 6.95% for three-year deposits [6] - ICICI Bank: 7.1% for three-year deposits [6] - Kotak Mahindra Bank: 6.90% for three-year deposits [6] - Federal Bank: 6.9% for three-year deposits [6] - State Bank of India (SBI): 6.8% for three-year deposits [6] - Bank of Baroda: 7.0% for three-year deposits [6] - Union Bank of India: 7.1% for three-year deposits [6]

Core Insights - During the festive season, SBI is promoting an auto loan with zero processing fees, zero prepayment charges, no foreclosure fees after two years, and financing up to 100% of the on-road price [1][7] - Interest rates for new car loans from various banks range from 7.6% to 14.25% for a loan amount of Rs 5 lakh over a five-year tenure [2][7] - UCO Bank offers the lowest interest rate starting at 7.60%, while SBI's rates range from 8.80% to 9.90% [7] Interest Rates and Charges - Interest rates for car loans vary significantly among lenders, with public sector banks like Canara Bank and Bank of Maharashtra starting at 7.70% [3][7] - ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have starting rates of 9.10% and 9.20% respectively [7] - Processing fees for car loans typically range from 0.25% to 2.50% of the loan amount, with certain lenders offering discounts during festive seasons [6][7] Factors Influencing Loan Rates - The interest rate on car loans is influenced by borrower-related factors such as credit score, income, and debt-to-income ratio, as well as loan-related details like loan amount, tenure, and down payment [2][7] - Broader market conditions and individual lender policies also play a significant role in determining the rates [2][7]

Core Insights - Personal loans are unsecured loans provided by financial institutions to assist individuals with various financial needs, such as medical expenses, weddings, travel, and education [3] - Understanding personal loan terms, including interest rates, processing fees, and prepayment penalties, is essential for making informed financial decisions [1][2] Interest Rates - Current personal loan interest rates from top lenders in 2025 are as follows: - HDFC Bank: 9.99% onwards - ICICI Bank: 10.60% onwards - Kotak Mahindra Bank: 9.98% onwards - Axis Bank: 9.99% - 21.55% - State Bank of India: 10.05% - 15.05% - Actual interest rates depend on individual profiles, credit scores, and lender policies [4] Application Considerations - Key factors to consider when applying for a personal loan include: 1. Checking credit score, with a score over 750 improving approval chances [6] 2. Comparing interest rates and additional charges across multiple financial institutions [6] 3. Borrowing only the necessary amount based on real financial needs [6] 4. Reviewing eligibility, documentation, and terms to understand repayment duration and penalties [6] 5. Consulting with a certified financial advisor to align financial health with loan requirements [6]

As the Centre's Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) enters its 10th year in 2025, we look at some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the scheme, such as how many children a family can open accounts for.More than 4.1 crore Sukanya Samriddhi accounts have been opened, as of November 2024, according to a PIB release. Launched in January 2015 as part of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, the scheme encourages families to invest in their daughters' futures and foster a culture of inclusion and ...