Here’s what you need to know:
- Gold headed for its first weekly decline in more than a month, even after a sharp Friday rebound tied to a much weaker-than-expected February jobs report.
- A stronger US Dollar and a spike in oil prices following escalating conflict in the Middle East created major headwinds for gold early in the week.
- Friday’s risk-off move helped gold recover some ground, but not enough to fully erase earlier losses.
- Markets are now looking ahead to Wednesday’s CPI report, which could shape expectations for Fed rate cuts and determine gold’s next move.
February Jobs Miss Big
Gold prices are looking at the metal’s first week-over-week decrease in over a month, despite a sharp rally of more than $60/oz on Friday morning.
The underlying factors of gold’s weak performance over the last five sessions remain mostly unchanged, but markets on Friday morning were unable to ignore an incredibly disappointing February Jobs Report, which saw the headline unemployment rate in the US increase to 4.4% while the number of jobs in the economy decreased by nearly -100K, versus expectations of an anemic +60K increase.
Global markets were swallowed up by a major risk-off swing on Friday morning, both just before and following the open of cash markets in the US. That move pushed gold spot prices as high as $5,160/oz, where the yellow metal seems to be finding resistance, while knocking US equity markets lower at the same time.
All three major US stock indexes are looking at a loss of -1% or more on the day. Despite Friday’s rally, the sharper sell-off that hit gold prices at the front end of the week still has gold poised for a weekly loss of roughly -2%.
The Wartime Dollar Dominates
The aggressive selling that hit gold on Tuesday was driven by the same underlying macro factors behind its initial spike on Sunday night and Monday morning.
As traders and investors further digested the ignition of the US and Israel’s joint war in Iran, two gold-correlated commodities came to the fore at the precious metal’s expense: oil, alongside other parts of the energy basket, and the US Dollar.
As investors fled to less risky positions, the clear preference was to back the US Dollar in wartime. A significant rise in the US Dollar Index coincided with gold’s drop on Monday and has held firm across the same intra-week period in which gold prices have been suppressed.
At the same time, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a critical chokepoint for commodity shipping, and the more general destabilization of the crude oil supply chain that comes with any conflict in the Middle East, oil prices have climbed throughout the week to a Friday peak above $90/barrel.
While one major commodity’s rise can often lift the whole basket higher, in this case gold appears to be dragged down on one hand by clear reasons to prefer at least short-term positioning in crude as it climbed, and may continue to climb, higher. On the other hand, ripping oil prices have likely forced a number of margin calls against commodity traders’ portfolios, at which point liquidating profitable gold positions becomes an easy call.
Fed Expectations Back in Focus
The less volatile question of projecting the next move by the Federal Reserve has not completely vanished from the minds of the market.
Further adding to the depressed condition of the gold market, several analysts’ desks are repricing the next rate cut to be further out. We expect the next turn here to come with Wednesday’s CPI release—either a removal of this headwind for gold if the data makes too strong a case for earlier cuts, or an exacerbation of it if consumer price pressure unexpectedly worsens.
Next Up
In the meantime, traders, I hope you can get out and safely enjoy your weekend for the next couple of days. After that, I’ll see you back here next week for another market recap.
Matthew Bolden
Matthew Bolden is an active trader and investor. His passions include writing about financial markets in a simple, pragmatic way. His work has been seen in various arenas within the world of global finance, and he has written commentary on several markets including precious metals, stocks, currencies and options.
Matthew is an avid reader, student of the markets and sports enthusiast who resides in the greater Chicago area.
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- Rashesh Shah notes India’s move to self-reliant capital markets
- India’s financial sector shows volatile yet rewarding long-term growth
- AI will automate advice, but human relationships stay crucial
Rashesh Shah, Co-founder of Edelweiss Group, reflected on his three-decade entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of India’s financial ecosystem, saying that building businesses in the country requires the ability to balance short-term volatility with long-term opportunity.
He said India’s financial sector transformation in the early 1990s played a key role in shaping the opportunities that entrepreneurs saw in the market.
Early inspiration and India’s financial reforms
Shah said he initially did not intend to become an entrepreneur despite coming from a business family. “I come from a business family. My father was what we today would call an MSME entrepreneur and I saw the hard work that an entrepreneur had to do. So I said I don’t want to do this hard work, I will study, get a good job and sit in an AC cabin,” he said.
However, the economic reforms following India’s balance of payments crisis in the early 1990s changed his perspective. “In the early 1990s India reimagined its financial economy. SEBI was formed in 1992, NSE came in 1994, private sector mutual funds came in 1993 and private banks in 1994. Something exciting was happening in India,” Shah said.
He added that the reforms laid the groundwork for India’s domestic capital markets to strengthen over the following decades. “It has taken us 30 years, but now we see that when foreign investors sell, Indian mutual funds and Indian investors are able to absorb that. We are becoming more self-reliant on our capital needs,” he said.
Growth is rarely linear
Shah said the early years of Edelweiss highlighted how unpredictable business growth can be. “When we started Edelweiss, we made a business plan — first year Rs 30 lakh, second year Rs 50 lakh, third year Rs 1 crore and so on,” he said.
While the first year matched expectations, the following years saw setbacks due to broader financial disruptions. “In the first year we did Rs 30 lakh exactly. In the second year we did only Rs 25 lakh and in the third year Rs 18 lakh because there was a financial crisis and an NBFC upheaval. But in the fourth year we did Rs 1 crore and in the fifth year Rs 11 crore,” Shah said.
He said this experience demonstrated that growth in India often happens in bursts rather than in a steady trajectory. “It’s not a linear growth. In the short term it can be volatile, but in the long term the growth is far more than what you estimate,” he said.
Balancing short-term volatility with long-term opportunity
According to Shah, India’s economic journey is often marked by global and domestic disruptions. “In India there is always some drama happening — global crises, geopolitical tensions or domestic events. In the short term it is filled with volatility, but in the long term there is a lot of opportunity,” he said.
He emphasised the need to maintain what he called a “bifocal vision”. “If God has given us two eyes, one should look at the short-term challenges and the other at the long-term opportunity. If you see only one of them, you will falter,” Shah said.
Reflecting on market growth over the decades, he noted that the Bombay Stock Exchange index was around 680 when he started his career in 1989 and is now around 80,000. “Having seen more than 100x growth over 35 years, compounding is visible only when you look at it from a distance,” he said.
Emotional and financial resilience matter
Shah said both emotional discipline and financial resilience are essential for investors and entrepreneurs. “The emotional impact of volatility is often higher than the actual financial impact,” he said.
He suggested adopting longer time horizons while evaluating investments and businesses. “In investing, think in three-to-five-year cycles. In building a business, think in five-to-eight-year cycles. That helps dampen the emotional impact of volatility,” Shah said.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining financial staying power. “Every business and investor needs financial resilience. Too much borrowing often forces businesses to exit during downturns,” he said.
Evaluating the quality of a business
Shah said Edelweiss evaluates its businesses based on four key parameters. The first is employee engagement, which he described as critical for financial services firms. “If employees are not energised and engaged, ethical compromises and integrity issues can arise,” he said.
The second factor is customer satisfaction, measured through feedback and net promoter scores. “You must ensure customers are experiencing what you promised,” Shah said.
The third factor is financial robustness, including liquidity, capital structure and cash flow. “Cash flow is extremely important. Many people focus on profit and loss statements but ignore cash flow,” he said.
The fourth parameter is risk and governance, which Shah said is essential in a highly regulated sector like financial services. “As custodians of other people’s money, the bar for risk management and governance must be very high,” he said.
AI will reshape advice but relationships remain key
Shah said artificial intelligence will increasingly automate execution and parts of advisory functions in financial services. “The digital journey has already made execution very easy. AI will automate a lot of advice,” he said.
However, he believes the role of human advisers will remain important. “I don’t think we will have AI relationship managers. All good relationship managers will become AI-assisted,” Shah said.
He added that advisers will need to focus more on understanding client needs. “Listening to clients, understanding the needs of the client and creating solutions around that will become the most important part of the advisory role,” he said.
According to Shah, the industry is likely to move from a product-centric approach to a client-centric one. “The client will be at the centre and the product will revolve around the client,” Shah said.
]]>- Panic selling during market drops locks in losses, hurts returns
- Frequent fund switching and stopping SIPs reduce long-term gains
- Key to volatility: maintain asset allocation and diversification
Nobel laureate Paul Samuelson famously remarked, “Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.”
Periods of market volatility often test investors’ patience and discipline. With ongoing global uncertainties such as the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, markets can react sharply, creating anxiety among investors. However, how investors respond during such times often determines their long-term investment outcomes.
Many mutual fund investors make costly mistakes during such periods, often driven by fear and short-term thinking.
Rohit Mattoo, Head – Retail Sales, Axis Mutual Fund, “As a retail investor, it’s easy to be swayed by daily market news, especially with the constant stream of headlines and reports about market movements. It’s natural to feel concerned or even panic when markets experience volatility. However, reacting impulsively to every market shakeup can hurt your overall investment strategy and erode returns. Short-term market fluctuations are inevitable, but they are often not indicative of the broader long-term market trajectory.”
Here is a list of common mistakes investors make during market volatility.
Panic selling during market falls
One of the most common mistakes is redeeming mutual fund units when markets decline. When investors see the value of their portfolio falling, many rush to redeem their investments to avoid further losses.
“Mutual fund investors often make mistakes during volatile periods that can hurt their long-term returns. The most common one is panic selling. When markets fall sharply, many investors redeem their mutual fund units to avoid further losses. Unfortunately, this reaction locks in losses and prevents them from benefiting from the eventual market recovery. Historically, equity markets have rebounded after periods of uncertainty, rewarding investors who stayed invested,” said Dr Jyoti Garg, Assistant Professor of Finance and Accounting, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon.
Selling during a downturn locks in losses. Markets tend to recover over time, and investors who exit during panic often miss the rebound. Long-term mutual fund investing works best when investors stay invested through market cycles.
Switching funds too frequently
During volatile periods, investors often shift their money between funds, sectors, or asset classes in search of better short-term performance.
Maintain your original split between equity and debt exposure in your existing portfolio. “If your original long-term asset allocation split is, for example, 70 percent equity and 30 percent debt, continue with the same (do not increase or reduce equity allocation). You can decide your asset allocation based on your time frame, tolerance for market declines and return expectations,” said Jiral Mehta – Senior Manager – Research, FundsIndia.
Stopping your existing SIPs
Systematic investment plans (SIPs) benefit from volatility by accumulating more units during a market fall and participating in the subsequent recovery. “Some of us get upset when the market falls and stop doing SIPs, but by doing so, they miss the benefit of accumulating units at a lower price and end up with a lower return despite a long-time frame,” said Mehta.
Trying to time the market
Another frequent mistake is attempting to predict market highs and lows. Some investors exit funds expecting markets to fall further and plan to reinvest later at lower levels.
In practice, timing the market consistently is extremely difficult, even for professional investors. Many people end up selling low and buying back at higher prices, which erodes returns.
Ignoring asset allocation
Volatility can disrupt a portfolio’s balance. For instance, equity investments may fall while debt funds remain stable.
Many investors fail to rebalance their portfolio to maintain their original asset allocation. Rebalancing helps control risk and ensures the portfolio remains aligned with long-term financial goals.
“Not rebalancing equity allocation if it falls short by more than 5 percent from original allocation, i.e. move some money from debt to equity and bring it back to original long-term asset allocation,” said Mehta.
Not well diversified
Many investors believe they are diversified simply because they own mutual fund schemes. In reality, their portfolios often end up concentrated in a few sectors, investment styles or regions.
One must make sure that their equity portfolio is well-diversified across investment styles (quality, value, growth, midcap, and momentum) and geographies.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
]]>- Goldman Sachs, DSP MF, Schroder, Societe Generale among 7 investors buy over 1% stake in PB Fintech
- Tencent Cloud Europe halves its stake in PB Fintech for Rs 695 crore
- DSP Mutual Fund sells 1.03% stake in Ganesha Ecosphere
Goldman Sachs, DSP Mutual Fund, Schroder, and Societe Generale among seven foreign and domestic institutional investors have acquired over 1 percent stake in the Policybazaar promoter from Tencent Cloud Europe via open market transactions on March 6.
Tencent Cloud Europe BV, a subsidiary of China’s Tencent Holdings, halved its stake in the Policybazaar and Paisabazaar operator on Friday, selling 48.4 lakh shares (equivalent to 1.04 percent of paid-up equity) for Rs 694.65 crore.
This follows Mirae Asset Mutual Fund which acquired 9 lakh shares in PB Fintech for Rs 129.15 crore, while Societe Generale – ODI has bought 7 lakh shares for Rs 100.45 crore.
And the remaining 19.74 lakh shares worth Rs 283.38 crore were purchased by DSP Mutual Fund, Schroder, Tata Mutual Fund, and Viridian Asia Opportunities Master Fund.
Amongst them, Tata Mutual Fund, and Mirae Asset MF already held 1.1 percent and 1.63 percent stake, respectively in PB Fintech as of December 2025.
Meanwhile, some action was also seen in Shankara Buildpro, which shares jumped 3.58 percent to Rs 1,001.8. 360 ONE Equity Opportunity Fund has bought 1.62 lakh shares (0.67 percent stake) in the building materials, and home improvement products supplier for Rs 16.22 crore. The buying price was Rs 998.61 per share.The transaction price for block deals was Rs 1435.1 per share.
On the contrary, total seven investors picked up the entire shares sold by Tencent with Goldman Sachs Bank Europe being the largest investor amongst them buying 12.65 lakh shares for Rs 181.6 crore.
This follows Mirae Asset Mutual Fund which acquired 9 lakh shares in PB Fintech for Rs 129.15 crore, while Societe Generale – ODI has bought 7 lakh shares for Rs 100.45 crore.
And the remaining 19.74 lakh shares worth Rs 283.38 crore were purchased by DSP Mutual Fund, Schroder, Tata Mutual Fund, and Viridian Asia Opportunities Master Fund.
Amongst them, Tata Mutual Fund, and Mirae Asset MF already held 1.1 percent and 1.63 percent stake, respectively in PB Fintech as of December 2025.
Meanwhile, some action was also seen in Shankara Buildpro, which shares jumped 3.58 percent to Rs 1,001.8. 360 ONE Equity Opportunity Fund has bought 1.62 lakh shares (0.67 percent stake) in the building materials, and home improvement products supplier for Rs 16.22 crore. The buying price was Rs 998.61 per share.
However, Ganesha Ecosphere was under pressure on Friday, plunging 8.36 percent to Rs 706.4 amid high volumes, may be after more than one percent stake offloaded by DSP Mutual Fund.
DSP Mutual Fund sold 2.76 lakh shares (1.03 percent stake) in the PET bottle recycler for Rs 21.2 crore, at a price of Rs 768 per share. However, India Capital Management through India Capital Fund has acquired 2.34 lakh shares for Rs 17.97 crore at same price.
]]>Oil prices surge as fighting spreads across the Middle East and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slows, raising fears of a prolonged disruption to global supply.
- US crude oil prices exceed $90 per barrel amid US-Iran tensions
- Shipping through Strait of Hormuz slowed, raising supply concerns
- Gasoline prices in US rose by nearly 27 cents to $3.25 per gallon
US crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel on Friday after US President Donald Trump demanded “unconditional surrender” from Iran, intensifying concerns about a prolonged war that could disrupt global energy supplies.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 11.27 percent at $90.14 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent crude rose 8.09 percent to $92.32 per barrel.
US crude has gained nearly 35 percent this week, while Brent has advanced about 28 percent, according to the data provided.
The price surge followed a social media post by Trump in which he issued a direct demand to Iran.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!,” Trump said.
The conflict between the United States and Iran has spread across the Middle East, affecting energy production and maritime traffic in the region.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, has slowed sharply during the conflict.
The strait connects Gulf oil producers with international markets and handles a significant share of global crude and liquefied natural gas shipments.
The near standstill in tanker movement has raised concerns about the availability of oil supplies in international markets.
Qatar Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that oil prices could reach $150 per barrel if tankers are unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said such a disruption could have severe consequences for the global economy.
“This could bring down the economies of the world,” Kaabi told the FT.
Kaabi also warned that energy exporters in the Gulf may declare force majeure if the disruption continues.
“Everybody that has not called for force majeure we expect will do so in the next few days that this continues,” he said.
“All exporters in the Gulf region will have to call force majeure. If they don’t, they are at some point going to pay the liability for that legally, and that’s their choice.”
The increase in oil prices is also reflected in fuel costs.
The average price of regular gasoline in the United States rose by nearly 27 cents over the past week to $3.25 per gallon, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The war between the United States and Iran entered its seventh day on Friday.
During a press conference on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said US operations in the conflict had only just begun.
“We have only just begun to fight,” Hegseth told reporters.
He said Iran’s expectation that the United States might not sustain the conflict would be a miscalculation.
“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation,” he said.
]]>- Section 45 protects life insurance claims after 3 years.
- Insurers can’t reject claims for non-disclosure after 3 years.
- Only proven fraud allows rejection after the 3-year period.
Many policyholders are unaware that Indian law provides strong protection for life insurance claims after a certain period. Under Section 45 of the Insurance Act, 1938, an insurance company cannot reject a life insurance claim for non-disclosure or misstatement after three years.
Swapnil Aggarwal, Director, VSRK Capital, said, “An insurance company cannot reject a life insurance claim arbitrarily, especially after a certain period, due to safeguards provided under the law. The “3-year rule” under Section 45 of the Insurance Act, 1938 ensures protection for policyholders and their families.”
“Earlier, insurers often rejected claims, citing non-disclosure or misrepresentation. However, to ensure fairness, the Supreme Court of India has reinforced that genuine claims should not be denied on technical grounds,” Aggarwal said.
Under this rule, once a policy has been in force for 3 years, the insurer cannot question or reject a claim based on misstatement or non-disclosure.
“The three-year period is calculated from the date of issuance, commencement of risk, or revival of the policy. After this period, the burden of proof lies on the insurer to establish fraud, ensuring stronger protection and timely claim settlement for beneficiaries,” Aggarwal added.
Section 45 of the Insurance Act
Section 45 of the Insurance Act states that an insurer may question a life insurance policy only within 3 years of the policy’s inception, the risk’s inception, the policy’s revival, or the addition of a rider, whichever is later. If the insurer believes there was fraud, it must inform the insured person or their family in writing and explain the reasons with evidence.
Fraud means deliberately providing false information, hiding important facts, or doing anything intended to mislead the insurer so the policy is issued. However, simply remaining silent about a fact is not considered fraud unless the person had a clear duty to disclose that information.
What happens during the first three years?
During the first three years, insurers have the legal right to investigate the policy and may reject a claim if they find evidence of material non-disclosure or incorrect information provided at the time of purchase. Once the three-year window has passed, the policy gains strong legal protection and cannot be challenged for non-disclosure, misstatement, or a false declaration.
The only exception is in cases of proven fraud, in which the insurance company bears the responsibility to prove the fraud. This provision was introduced to ensure greater certainty and fairness for policyholders and their families when making a claim.
Industry reassurance
Concerns around claim settlement have become a thing of the past in the life insurance sector. “Claim Settlement Ratio has seen a significant shift in more than a decade, improving from 85 percent levels in 2014 to 99 percent+ now,” said Anup Seth, Chief Distribution Officer, Edelweiss Life Insurance. “This reflects a strong intent across the industry to ensure genuine claims are honoured and families receive support when they most require.”
This transformation has been driven by 2 key factors:
While section 45 of the Insurance Act plays its role, regulatory changes over the past several years have included improved customer disclosure to promote transparency and a guiding framework that ensures insurers settle genuine claims.
“Process governance within life insurance companies has become far more robust, with stronger systems and frameworks to ensure effective risk assessment and fraud detection,” said Seth.
The past decade has been instrumental in shaping the industry, creating the right balance between enabling sectoral growth while ensuring that policyholders interests remain firmly protected.
Policyholder rights matter
While there are still many cases where insurance companies begin investigations into high-value term insurance policies even after the policy has been running for many years. In such situations, families are often asked for additional documents or explanations, even though the policyholder has already crossed the three-year period after which claims cannot normally be rejected for non-disclosure.
Experts say, “In many instances, insurers do not immediately agree to settle a claim. In such cases, the situation changes only when the policyholder’s family or the insurance agent strongly reminds the insurer about the legal protection available under the law (such as Section 45 of the Insurance Act) and keeps following up with complaints.”
When they continue to raise the issue and put consistent pressure on the insurer, the company may review its earlier decision and eventually process and settle the claim. In simple terms, persistence and awareness of legal rights can help families get the claim approved.
What many people do not know is that under Section 45 of the Insurance Act, a policyholder cannot be questioned after three years except in cases of proven fraud, as mentioned above. However, families are often unaware of this right when a claim arises, and this lack of awareness can lead to unnecessary delays.Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
]]>- List all loans with EMI, interest rate, and tenure for clarity
- Use a spreadsheet or app to track loans and due dates
- Update your tracker regularly to monitor progress and changes
It’s not unusual for people to have several loans at the same time. A home loan might run for decades, a car loan for a few years, and a credit card or personal loan may sit alongside them. Each of these comes with its own EMI, due date and outstanding balance.
Individually they are manageable. The problem usually appears when no one is looking at the full picture. Payments get scattered across different banks and apps, and it becomes easy to forget how much total debt actually exists.
Keeping track of everything in one place can make a noticeable difference.
Start by writing down every loan you currently have
The first step is surprisingly basic: list them all. Many people underestimate how helpful this is until they actually do it.
Include every loan and credit obligation—home loans, personal loans, car loans, education loans, and even credit card balances if they carry outstanding amounts. Alongside each one, note the lender, the EMI amount, the interest rate and the remaining tenure.
Looking at everything together will give a better picture of what your total financial obligations are.
Use a spreadsheet or a simple tracker
You can always use a spreadsheet if you are comfortable with it. A simple table with columns for each loan, EMI, interest rate, and due date can function as a personal finance dashboard.
Some people also prefer using personal finance apps that can track their loans and credit cards automatically.
Regardless of whether it is a spreadsheet or an app, the objective is the same: a single place to look at all loans.
Keep an eye on due dates and total EMIs
One advantage of tracking loans is that it can remind you to never miss a payment. If you have multiple loans with different due dates, it can get easy to miss a payment.
It can also be helpful to look at a list of all due dates so that you can plan ahead or maintain a certain balance before the EMI is withdrawn.
Another advantage is that it can give a better idea of the total EMI paid out each month. This can give an idea of how much of your salary goes into loan repayment.
Check your credit report occasionally
Another useful step is reviewing your credit report from time to time. Credit bureaus keep records of most loans and credit cards in your name.
Looking at the report occasionally helps confirm that all loans are recorded correctly and that no unfamiliar accounts appear.
It can also show whether repayments are being reported accurately.
Update the tracker whenever something changes
Loans change over time. Balances fall, some loans close, and new ones may appear. A tracker only works if it stays updated.
Adding small updates every few months keeps the overview accurate. It also makes it easier to see progress as loans gradually get paid off.
For many borrowers, the biggest advantage of tracking loans is clarity. Instead of thinking about each EMI separately, everything sits in one place. That simple overview often leads to better decisions about budgeting, repayments and future borrowing.
]]>German engineering services giant Siemens is seeing a shift in its workforce mix and competencies, focusing on talent with skillsets in artificial intelligence (AI) and data, said Dr. Peter Koerte, member of the managing board, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG.
Koerte said that this will be an overall opportunity for Siemens’ technology teams in India too, as they will now be able to participate in value creation for newer products, and work beyond traditional software development.
Siemens currently has 38,000 employees across India, with the listed entity Siemens Limited having around 6,200 people, and 25 factories.
The company has about 10,000 software and AI experts across its global innovation centres in Bengaluru and Pune.
“It’s a shift in competencies and mixes for sure. We need more data scientists because data is the key thing in there. These are job families that we’re looking very much on. In AI, there are also people trained in just traditional machine learning algorithms and we’re looking for them,” Koerte told Moneycontrol in an interview on the sidelines of Siemens India Innovation Day in Mumbai.
He added, “UX designers are becoming important. Because the question is not only what’s AI but where do you use the AI and how do you consume it.”
According to Koerte, while consumers could access AI through smartphones or web applications, interactions become complex when it comes to industrial AI.
Siemens is working on bridging these gaps, to find alternatives where people could interact with AI on shop floors where they are not able to use their phones or computers.
“These are the things that we’re exploring and we need people coming from different industries in order to inspire (us),” Koerte said.
Building smaller teams
Koerte noted that India will find its AI opportunity in building the applications layer, as one starts rethinking traditional software development where the country has been a leader.
Within Siemens too, he expects there will be a change in how software development teams are getting structured.
“Copilots and AI tools are terrific tools to use for software coding. You need to rethink of how software development teams are structured. Architecturally speaking smaller teams with higher caliber in terms of knowledge that’s a trend that we’re seeing,” he said.
Koerte added, “For India, it means two things. One, the teams will become smaller but two, they will become more a part of the value creation of a new product because as I said you can’t just throw the requirements off the fence. It’s an opportunity.”
‘India benefits the most from Industrial AI’
During his keynote at the event, Koerte said physical AI is going to be massive opportunity over the next few years, and India is set to benefit the most as almost 87 percent of domestic enterprises use AI solutions — a stark contrast from the AI adoption gap seen in rest of the world.
“There are very few countries that is growing at a 7% GDP like India. The future is absolutely bright for India to come,” he said.
In the global AI race, you have the US and China, and everybody is asking about India’s role in this given it’s strong position in software development services for the world. India is going to be a major force in AI. India is going to benefit the most from applying AI in the various industries we see emerging,” he added.
Koerte highlighted that he expects a “lot of applications coming from India for the world” that will make Siemens more competitive.
In terms of Siemens’ global business, India is its fourth largest market, contributing significantly to its revenue growth. The German multinational projected enormous demand driven by the policy tailwinds around data centre tax holiday extension, IndiaAI Mission, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 among others.
]]>- Daughters can now become karta of HUF due to 2005 legal changes
- Wives cannot be karta as they are members, not coparceners
- Coparceners have property rights; members get maintenance only
The role of the karta- the head of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)- has traditionally been associated with the eldest male member of the family. However, legal changes over the past two decades have altered this understanding. Today, daughters can legally become kartas of an HUF under certain circumstances, while wives still cannot.
The distinction lies in the difference between coparceners and members of an HUF, and how rights over ancestral property are defined under Hindu law.
Why daughters can become karta
The key change came with the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, which granted daughters the same coparcenary rights as sons.
Priyanka Desai, Founder and Co-Managing Partner at The Fort Circle, explains: “Before the enactment of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, only a son was recognised as a coparcener in the Hindu Joint Family (HUF)and the only the eldest male member was traditionally regarded as Karta. After the 2005 Amendment, a daughter of a coparcener became a coparcener by birth, having the same rights and liabilities in the HUF as a son. Consequently, if the daughter is the eldest coparcener in the family, she can act as the Karta of the HUF.”
This effectively means that the role of karta is determined not by gender but by seniority among coparceners.
Alay Razvi, Managing Partner at Accord Juris, says courts have also clarified this position in recent years. “Courts, including the Delhi High Court, have affirmed that the role of Karta is not restricted by gender but by seniority. If a woman is the senior-most coparcener in the family, she can manage the HUF’s affairs, control its property, take financial decisions, and represent the HUF in legal and tax matters.”
Why a wife cannot be a karta
Despite these reforms, a wife cannot become a karta because she does not qualify as a coparcener.
Radhika Gaggar, Partner (Co-head – Private Client) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, explains the legal reasoning.
“The eldest coparcener has the right to be karta, be it daughter or son, a position confirmed by the Supreme Court as recently as 2023. However, it should be noted that the wife of a coparcener does not possess the same right. This stems from the principle that a wife only becomes a member of her husband’s family upon marriage, and not a coparcener.”
In other words, the ability to become a karta is linked to coparcenary rights acquired by birth, which wives do not have.
Member vs coparcener: the key distinction
Understanding this difference is crucial to understanding the structure of an HUF.
According to Desai, “A wife, daughter-in-law can only be members of a HUF while the sons and daughters born in the HUF are by virtue of their birth, coparceners of the HUF. While members, by virtue of not born in the HUF are not coparceners and are not entitled to the benefits nor bound by the obligations of HUF. Members are only entitled to maintenance from the HUF.”
Razvi also emphasises that coparceners enjoy stronger legal rights over family property.
“A coparcener is a person who acquires a legal right in ancestral property by birth. After the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, both sons and daughters are recognised as coparceners. Coparceners can demand partition of the HUF property and have a direct ownership right. On the other hand, wives and daughters-in-law are members but not coparceners.”
The Karta is the head of the HUF and manages all affairs of the family. The position carries both authority and fiduciary responsibility. The Karta has power over the income and expenditure; and is the custodian of the surplus, if any. The Karta is to be in charge of expenses towards maintenance, education, marriage, religious ceremonies, etc, explains Desai.
Gaggar adds that the karta also represents the family in legal and financial matters.
The evolving role of women in HUFs
The legal recognition of daughters as coparceners has significantly expanded their role in family wealth structures. While wives remain members rather than coparceners, daughters now have equal rights in ancestral property and can lead the HUF if they are the senior-most coparcener.
This shift reflects how Indian family law has gradually moved toward greater gender parity in inheritance and property rights, even though some distinctions within the HUF framework still remain.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
]]>- Start with a small credit card to build credit history.
- Use the card regularly, pay bills in full and on time.
- Keep spending below the credit limit and check credit reports.
A lot of people run into this situation without realising it. They apply for a credit card or a small loan and the bank says there isn’t enough credit history to approve it. It can feel strange because the person has never missed a payment—they’ve simply never borrowed at all.
Credit history works a bit like a track record. Lenders want to see evidence that someone has handled credit responsibly in the past before they approve new borrowing. If that record doesn’t exist yet, the first step is simply to start building it slowly.
Begin with a small credit product
For someone new to credit, banks usually start with smaller limits. A basic credit card or a secured credit card—one backed by a fixed deposit—is often the easiest entry point.
Because the risk to the bank is lower, approvals are more likely. The goal at this stage isn’t to borrow large amounts but to begin creating a repayment record.
Even small transactions, when paid on time, start forming that history.
Use the credit card regularly but modestly However, once the credit card is active, using it from time to time helps build the credit. This could mean using it for groceries or other expenses.
What matters most than the amount spent is the way the payment is made. Paying the full amount before the due date proves that the borrower is responsible enough to handle credit.
This habit will eventually reflect on the credit report.
Avoid using the entire credit limit
Another habit that helps is keeping spending well below the available credit limit. Using the full limit frequently can make lenders nervous because it suggests financial pressure.
Many financial advisers suggest using only a portion of the limit—sometimes around thirty percent or less—while still paying the bill in full.
This shows that the borrower has access to credit but does not depend on it heavily.
Check your credit report occasionally
Once someone begins using credit, it’s useful to check the credit report from time to time. Credit bureaus maintain records of credit cards, loans and repayment behaviour.
Looking at the report helps confirm that payments are being recorded correctly and that there are no unexpected accounts listed.
It also gives a sense of how the credit history is gradually building.
Be patient while the history develops
Credit history does not appear overnight. It takes time for lenders to see a pattern of consistent behaviour.
After several months—or sometimes a year—of regular payments, borrowers often find it easier to qualify for larger credit cards or loans. What began as a small credit line gradually turns into a stronger financial profile.
For people new to borrowing, the process is mostly about consistency. Small amounts of credit, used carefully and repaid on time, slowly build the history that lenders look for. Over time that record becomes one of the most useful financial assets a borrower can have.
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