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Are you questioning ‘mutual fund sahi hai’ after 10% portfolio loss? Expert explains bigger picture

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Are you questioning ‘mutual fund sahi hai’ after 10% portfolio loss? Expert explains bigger picture
Recent market volatility has left many mutual fund investors questioning their decisions, especially those who started investing over the past couple of years. With portfolios slipping into losses and returns looking unimpressive in the short term, a common doubt is emerging—kya mutual fund sahi hai?

A query from Lari, a government teacher from Madhya Pradesh and a viewer of The Money Show on ET Now, reflects this sentiment. She says her mutual fund portfolio is down nearly 10% and she is struggling to see any benefit so far while investing in mutual funds.

Also Read | Equity mutual funds lose up to 48% on SIP investments in FY26. Have you added any to your portfolio?

According to financial expert Harshvardhan Roongta, this is a very common concern, particularly among new investors. Those who have entered the market in the last one or two years may even see negative returns in their SIP investments, leading to doubts about whether they made the right choice. Naturally, many begin comparing mutual funds with fixed deposits, wondering if a steady 6% return would have been a better option.

“So, you might question yourself thinking whether you have done the right thing because the common comparison that investors would have if after two years or three years they see their portfolio negative the first thing that comes to their mind is that it would be better if I put my money in fixed deposit, at least I would have got 6% per annum. So, these are the things that usually investors are definitely confused with,” the expert said.

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However, this comparison often overlooks a key aspect—mutual funds, especially equity funds, are market-linked instruments. Their performance is directly influenced by broader economic conditions, global events, and investor sentiment. When there is uncertainty—be it geopolitical tensions, economic stress, or global disruptions—markets tend to fall, and mutual fund returns reflect that reality.
“Markets will fall when there is uncertainty and they will go up when there is clarity,” the expert further highlighted.
Roongta explains that this behaviour is not a flaw but a feature of how markets function. In fact, it would be more concerning if markets continued to rise despite significant global stress, as that would indicate a disconnect from underlying realities. Market corrections are a natural response to uncertainty, and they help bring valuations in line with fundamentals.
The expert said that, “The question is what actually would be a cause of concern would be that there is war that is going on right now as it is and there is so much of stress on fuel, energy; there is so much of concerns about security and the war escalating, etc, and markets ignored all this and continuously just kept going one way upwards, that would be a cause of concern because it is not doing what it is supposed to do.”

Over time, as clarity returns and economic conditions improve, markets tend to recover. However, this recovery is not immediate. Even if external risks such as geopolitical tensions ease, the real driver of sustained market growth—corporate earnings—takes time to improve. As companies report better performance and the economy stabilises, returns gradually follow.

Also Read | Sebi simplifies gifting of mutual funds. Here’s what it means for investors

This highlights an important lesson for investors: equity investing requires patience and a long-term perspective. Short-term volatility is inevitable, and expecting consistent positive returns over one- or two-year periods can lead to disappointment.

At the same time, not every investor may be comfortable with this level of uncertainty. Roongta emphasises that before investing in mutual funds, especially equity schemes, it is essential to understand how they work, what kind of returns to expect, and the risks involved in the short term. Investors who are uncomfortable with market fluctuations may be better suited to more stable options like fixed deposits or other low-risk instruments.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to alignment. If an investor understands the nature of market-linked investments and is willing to stay invested through cycles, mutual funds can be an effective wealth creation tool. But if volatility causes stress and uncertainty, it may be worth reconsidering the investment approach to ensure both financial and emotional comfort.

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In volatile times, the real question is not whether mutual funds are “right” or “wrong”—but whether they are the right fit for your expectations and investment temperament.

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Weekly Commentary: Lacking A Good Scenario

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Weekly Commentary: Lacking A Good Scenario

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I’m at about 30 years persevering as a “professional bear.” My lucky break came in late-1989, when I was hired by Gordon Ringoen to be the trader for his short-biased hedge fund in San Francisco. Working as a short-side trader, analyst and portfolio manager during the great nineties bull market – for one of the most brilliant individuals I’ve met – was an exciting, demanding and, in the end, a grueling and absolutely invaluable learning experience. Later in the nineties, I had stints at Fleckenstein Capital and East Shore Partners. In January 1999, I began my 16 year run with PrudentBear (that concluded at the end of 2014), working as strategist and portfolio manager with David Tice in Dallas until the bear funds were sold in December 2008. In the early-nineties, I became an impassioned reader of The Richebacher Letter. The great Dr. Richebacher opened my eyes to Austrian economics and solidified my lifetime passion for economics and macro analysis. I had the good fortune to assist Dr. Richebacher with his publication from 1996 through 2001. Prior to my work in investments, I worked as a treasury analyst at Toyota’s U.S. headquarters. It was working at Toyota during the Japanese Bubble period and the 1987 stock market crash where I first recognized my love for macro analysis. Fresh out of college I worked as a Price Waterhouse CPA. I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oregon (Accounting and Finance majors, 1984) and later received an MBA from Indiana University (1989). By late in the nineties, I was convinced that momentous developments were unfolding in finance, the markets and policymaking that were going unrecognized by conventional analysis and the media. I was inspired to start my blog, which became the Credit Bubble Bulletin, by the desire to shed light on these developments. I believe there is great value in contemporaneous analysis, and I’ll point to Benjamin Anderson’s brilliant writings in the “Chase Economic Bulletin” during the Roaring Twenties and Great Depression era. Ben Bernanke has referred to understanding the forces leading up to the Great Depression as the “Holy Grail of Economics.” I believe “The Grail” will instead be discovered through knowledge and understanding of the current extraordinary global Bubble period.

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Is Abu Dhabi Airport Open? Zayed International Airport Open but Operating at Reduced Capacity

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Is Abu Dhabi Airport Open? Zayed International Airport Resumes Limited

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Zayed International Airport, the primary gateway to Abu Dhabi and home base for Etihad Airways, remains open as of Saturday, March 28, 2026, but is functioning with significantly limited operations due to lingering effects of regional geopolitical tensions and recent rainy weather that has compounded flight delays across the UAE.

Is Abu Dhabi Airport Open? Zayed International Airport Resumes Limited
Is Abu Dhabi Airport Open? Zayed International Airport Resumes Limited Operations Amid Regional Tensions

Travelers checking “Is Abu Dhabi Airport open right now?” should note that while the airport has resumed partial commercial services following earlier airspace closures tied to Middle East conflicts, passengers are strongly advised not to head to the terminals without a confirmed ticket and direct notification from their airline. Access remains restricted to confirmed travelers only, according to the official airport website.

The airport, formerly known as Abu Dhabi International Airport and now branded as Zayed International Airport (code: AUH), has been gradually rebuilding its schedule since early March. Full suspensions occurred in late February and early March 2026 amid airspace restrictions linked to escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Limited exceptional, priority and repatriation flights began resuming around March 2, with Etihad Airways restarting select commercial services by March 6.

As of late March, the airport is handling flights at roughly 40% to 70% of normal capacity, depending on the day and airline, according to multiple travel advisories and reports. Etihad, the flag carrier, is operating approximately 60-70 daily departures on key routes, focusing on major hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris, Mumbai, Bangkok and New York JFK where possible. However, many international carriers have reduced frequencies, rerouted services or suspended operations entirely until later in 2026. British Airways, for instance, has halted Abu Dhabi services through late October or beyond, while others like Lufthansa and several Indian carriers have implemented temporary cuts or full refunds for affected bookings.

Recent rainy weather on March 26 further disrupted recovery efforts in Abu Dhabi and neighboring Dubai, leading to additional delays and cancellations even as limited schedules resumed. Airports across the UAE, including Zayed International, shifted to carefully controlled operations with significant delays reported on both departures and arrivals. Smaller UAE airports have shown partial recovery but remain unstable, prompting broad advisories for travelers to verify details directly with airlines.

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Live flight tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 and the airport’s own departures board show a mix of activity. Early Saturday morning departures included Etihad flights to Paris (EY031) that operated, while others like a service to Amsterdam were listed as cancelled in sample data. Arrivals and departures reflect a thinned-out schedule, with many flights still subject to last-minute changes. The official Zayed International Airport website prominently displays a notice: “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly advised by their airline to do so.”

Etihad Airways has emphasized in updates that its current flight program is fluid. The airline recommends checking etihad.com for the latest status, ensuring contact details are current for rebooking notifications, and avoiding the airport without explicit confirmation. Some repositioning, cargo and humanitarian flights continue under strict safety approvals coordinated with UAE authorities.

The disruptions trace back to airspace closures starting around Feb. 28, 2026, following reported military actions in the region. Over 4,000 daily flights were affected across Gulf hubs at the peak, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers globally. Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed faced full or near-full halts initially, with phased reopenings prioritizing safety corridors. By mid-March, operations had improved to low-to-moderate disruption levels on remaining flights, though capacity constraints persist due to ongoing security considerations and fragile recovery.

Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator, confirmed partial resumption on March 2 in coordination with authorities and partners. The airport, one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing hubs with its modern Terminal A, has focused resources on essential connectivity while maintaining heightened security protocols. Prayer times and passenger services like the Airport Express bus to Dubai and Salam Meet & Assist remain available for those cleared to travel.

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For passengers with existing bookings, options include rebooking on available limited services, seeking refunds where suspensions apply, or exploring alternative routings through less-affected airports. Travel experts recommend monitoring official sources closely: the Zayed International Airport website (zayedinternationalairport.ae), Etihad’s flight status page, and global trackers like FlightAware or Skyscanner. Apps from the airport and airline provide real-time updates on gates, immigration and baggage.

The situation highlights the vulnerability of Gulf aviation to regional events. The UAE, a major transit and tourism hub, has seen its connectivity impacted, affecting business travelers, tourists and expatriates. Visit Abu Dhabi tourism authorities note that while the airport is operational, visitors should confirm entry requirements and flight viability before planning trips. Broader Middle East airspace advisories continue to influence long-haul carriers from Europe, Asia and North America.

Looking ahead, full normalization depends on stabilizing regional airspace and weather patterns. Aviation analysts expect a gradual ramp-up in April, but caution that schedules could shift rapidly. Some routes, particularly to certain European and Asian cities, may take months to restore completely.

Travelers affected by cancellations should contact their airlines promptly for reprotection or refunds. Insurance holders are urged to review policies for disruption coverage. Those transiting through Abu Dhabi should build in extra buffer time given potential delays even on operating flights.

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Zayed International Airport continues to prioritize safety and passenger well-being. With its state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced check-in and duty-free options when operational, the airport aims to return to its status as a premium hub once conditions allow.

In summary, yes — Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport is open right now, but with constrained services, ongoing advisories and a strong recommendation to verify every detail before travel. The evolving nature of both geopolitical and weather-related factors means constant monitoring is essential for anyone planning flights to, from or through AUH in the coming days and weeks.

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DouYu: Worth The Risk At Far Below Cash On The Books

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DouYu: Worth The Risk At Far Below Cash On The Books

DouYu: Worth The Risk At Far Below Cash On The Books

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Pakistan to host regional summit on Monday amid Iran cease-fire talks- report

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Pakistan to host regional summit on Monday amid Iran cease-fire talks- report

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Whale’s Insight: A Macro-Driven Market With No Safe Haven, And No End To Volatility

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Whale's Insight: A Macro-Driven Market With No Safe Haven, And No End To Volatility

Stock market activity shows price changes and trading movements in real time

FabrikaCr/iStock via Getty Images

This week, Trump’s flip-flopping triggered three major market reversals in five days as gold, equities, and crypto fell in unison with no safe haven in sight. Multiple scenarios are taking shape depending on how long the Hormuz closure lasts

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Rentomojo IPO: Furniture e-marketplace files DRHP with Sebi; to raise Rs 150 crore from fresh issue

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Rentomojo IPO: Furniture e-marketplace files DRHP with Sebi; to raise Rs 150 crore from fresh issue
E-marketplace Rentomojo Limited has filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to launch its initial public offering (IPO). The company plans to raise Rs 150 crore via the issue of fresh equity.

The public offer will be a mix of issuing fresh shares and an offer for sale (OFS) where existing shareholders will offload up to 28,399,567 equity shares.

About Rentomojo

Rentomojo is an online rental and subscription platform for home furniture and appliances. Its promoter is Geetansh Bamania.The company operates a technology-driven, full-stack direct-to-consumer (D2C) online rental and subscription platform for furniture and home appliances in India. The DRHP claims that the company is a market leader in this segment with an estimated 42%–47% share in the organised home furniture and appliances rental segment (excluding water purifiers) based on subscription revenue in the fiscal of 2025, with 2,27,511 live subscribers across 22 cities as of September 30, 2025, supported by a scaled service network that includes 21 warehouses and approximately 444,486 sq. ft. of warehousing space.

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The company quoted a Redseer report to back its claims.
It operates an omni-channel platform comprising its online interface and 67 experience stores across India (as of September 30, 2025), offering flexible subscription access to furniture and appliances across a portfolio of 728,773 live products.
Also read: IPO Calendar: No fresh issues next week; Coal India subsidiary, 6 more companies set to debut

Rentomojo financials

The company’s revenue from operations stood at Rs 176.61 crore for the six months ended September 30, 2025, and Rs 266 crore for fiscal 2025, while restated profit after tax was at Rs 61.38 crore for the six months ended September 30, 2025 and Rs 43.11 crore for FY25.

IPO proceeds

The company has proposed to utilise the net proceeds from the initial public offer for multiple purposes, including the repayment or prepayment, in full or in part, of certain outstanding borrowings along with the accrued interest thereon availed by the company; the payment of lease rentals or license fees for its warehouses and experience stores (referred to as the “Premises”); and general corporate purposes.

Following its IPO, the stock will be listed on the NSE and BSE.

Lead managers

Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited, Axis Capital Limited, and IIFL Capital Services Limited (formerly known as IIFL Securities Limited) are the Book Running Lead Managers to the issue.

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(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

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Charts signal more pain ahead for Nifty; select stocks still offer tactical opportunities: Nagaraj Shetti

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Charts signal more pain ahead for Nifty; select stocks still offer tactical opportunities: Nagaraj Shetti
With volatility on the rise and a truncated trading week ahead, market participants are closely watching technical signals for direction. While global cues and macro uncertainties remain fluid, charts indicate that the Nifty may continue to face downward pressure in the near term.

Technical analyst Nagaraj Shetti from HDFC Securities believes the trend remains firmly bearish.

“No doubt market is in a downtrend. Every rise is being sold. Lower tops and bottoms over the past month indicate bears are in control. The recent bounce near 23,400–23,500 has formed a lower top. Nifty could break 22,450 next week and slide towards 22,000 in the coming weeks.”

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Weak Supports Amid Global Pressure

Despite intermittent recoveries, the underlying weakness persists, with global factors weighing heavily on sentiment.

“I do not think stability will come soon. Markets are echoing global pressure—rupee and crude are key concerns. The 22,450 level is just a psychological support. Given the bearish pattern, we could soon break below this level.”

Coal India Shows Relative Strength


Even in a falling market, some stocks are holding up better than the benchmark.“Coal India has corrected, but the trend remains positive with higher tops and bottoms. Around 430–435 is strong support. The stock could bounce back towards 475–480 in the near term.”

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Stock Strategy: Buy Strength, Sell Weakness


Shetti suggests a balanced approach with opportunities on both sides of the market.

“Ather Energy is in a strong uptrend with consistent higher tops and bottoms. It has broken key resistance near 750–760. One can buy around current levels for a target of 850, with a stop loss at 760.”

“On the short side, BDL is weak with a clear bearish pattern. One can sell around current levels for a target of 1070, keeping a stop loss at 1160.”

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Outlook


With multiple expiries and limited trading sessions ahead, volatility is likely to remain high. While selective stocks may outperform, the broader market trend continues to favour caution, with charts pointing towards further downside in the Nifty.

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China’s Moonshot AI Seeks Listing in Hong Kong Under Heightened Scrutiny

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China’s Moonshot AI Seeks Listing in Hong Kong Under Heightened Scrutiny

Moonshot AI, one of China’s most promising artificial-intelligence startups, is considering changing its corporate structure to pave the way for an initial public offering in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter said.

The company is raising a new round of private funding that would value it at around $18 billion, some of the people said. A previous round of fundraising from global investors in December had valued the company around $4.3 billion.

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Tech Investing Seems Broken. Our Roundtable Pros Share 15 Stock Picks to Fix Your Portfolio.

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Tech Investing Seems Broken. Our Roundtable Pros Share 15 Stock Picks to Fix Your Portfolio.

Tech Investing Seems Broken. Our Roundtable Pros Share 15 Stock Picks to Fix Your Portfolio.

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Free prom hire boutique set up for two schools

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Free prom hire boutique set up for two schools

Mia, a student, says it will lesson the burden on anyone spending hundreds of pounds on a dress.

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