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India’s financial landscape has been undergoing a rapid transformation as more people begin participating in investments, banking and digital payments. One of the most notable changes in recent years is the rising participation of women across multiple financial segments, including mutual funds, insurance, stock market investing, cryptocurrency and digital payments.

Highlighting this trend, Radhika Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, said that women are currently the fastest-growing segment in finance.

Also Read | Women crypto investors grow 116.8% in India, hold 4 different digital assets: CoinDCX

In a recent video shared on social media platform X, Gupta posed a question about what has been the fastest-growing development in the financial sector lately. While one might assume the answer to be mutual fund SIPs, the newly launched product by SEBI, SIFs, or credit cards, Gupta explained that the real answer is the rise of women in finance.
Speaking in the video, Gupta highlighted several rising trends that show how women are increasingly shaping India’s financial ecosystem. According to her, women have recorded nearly 140% growth in mutual fund folios, reflecting a sharp rise in their participation in market-linked investments.

The trend is not limited to mutual funds. Gupta noted that women’s presence has been expanding across a range of financial products. In the insurance sector, she pointed out that one in three life insurance policies in India is now held by women, indicating a growing focus on financial security and long-term planning.
Women are also becoming more active in the stock market. Gupta said their participation in equities has grown by more than 300%, demonstrating a strong shift from traditional saving habits towards investment-oriented financial planning.Beyond investments, women are increasingly using formal financial services. Gupta highlighted that bank account coverage among women has reached around 89%, reflecting the progress made in expanding financial inclusion. At the same time, their participation in credit markets has also risen.

Women have also played a major role in the growth of digital payments in the country. The surge in transactions through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has transformed the way Indians transact, has been partly driven by the growing number of women using digital financial platforms.

Also Read | Share of equity mutual funds in portfolio of women investor surge to 32% in 5 years : Report

Summing up the trend, Gupta said that while the financial industry often focuses on products, platforms and technology, the most important shift is the growing financial participation of women themselves.

“The fastest-growing thing in finance today is women,” Gupta said, underscoring how their rising presence is reshaping the country’s financial landscape.

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

If you have any mutual fund queries, message ET Mutual Funds on Facebook or Twitter. We will get them answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions at ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile and Twitter handle.

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Commodity derivatives have become one of India’s most dynamic trading segments, especially on exchanges like MCX. It’s important to understand commodity derivatives and the right way to trade in them.

Commodity derivatives are financial contracts linked to the price of physical commodities such as gold, crude oil, natural gas, silver, copper, and agricultural products. One doesn’t need to buy the actual gold bar or a barrel of oil, instead, they can trade futures contracts, where one agrees to buy or sell a commodity at a future date and price. These instruments help traders benefit from price movements without handling the physical commodity, making them popular for hedging and short-term trading.

In today’s fast, technology-led markets, a new-age trader must be informed, disciplined, and process-driven. Here are the five best practices every modern commodity trader should follow.

1. Understand What Moves Commodity Prices

Commodity markets react quickly to global and domestic triggers. A new-age trader must know the key factors that influence prices:

• Global cues: Movement of the US dollar, geopolitical tensions, and inflation trends can make commodities like gold or crude oil rise or fall. For example: A rising dollar often pushes gold prices down, making it important for traders to track the currency.
• Domestic factors: Import/export numbers, monsoon forecasts, and government policy changes can move agri-commodities significantly. For example: A poor monsoon forecast may lift prices of crops like cotton or soybean.
• Exchange margin updates: During high volatility, exchanges may increase margins. Traders who are unaware may face forced square-off.

Understanding these fundamentals helps traders avoid panic reactions and make informed decisions based on data and not emotions.

2. Trade with a Defined System

Random trading is the fastest way to lose money. A new-age trader follows a well-defined trading system that includes:

• Clear entry signals (like a breakout, trend change, or fundamental cue)
• A pre-decided stop-loss to limit damage
• A realistic target based on volatility
• Position sizing rules to protect capital

Back-testing strategies on historical MCX charts helps understand how the system might perform in real markets.

3. Put Risk Management Before Profit Chasing

In commodity trading, staying in the game matters more than making a quick profit. Prices in markets like crude oil, natural gas, and metals can swing wildly, and one bad trade can drain your capital if you’re not careful.

A disciplined trader:

• Risks only a small fraction of their total capital on each trade
• Keeps a margin buffer to avoid forced RMS square-offs during sudden volatility
• Steers clear of over-leveraging, no matter how tempting the opportunity looks

Example:

If you have ₹1,00,000 in your trading account, putting ₹20,000 at risk on a single gold futures trade is extremely risky. A smart new-age trader limits risk to just 1–2% of capital (₹1,000–₹2,000). This approach protects your account during bad phases and ensures you can continue trading for the long run.

4. Use Technology to Stay Ahead

Modern traders use technology to remove emotional errors and improve precision.

• Real-time data dashboards help track price movements instantly.
• Automated alerts notify you of breakouts, margin changes, or global news.
• Algo or semi-auto systems help execute trades faster and more consistently.

Example: Setting an automated alert for crude oil at a key support level saves you from staring at the screen all day and allows faster reaction when the price hits your level.

5. Stay Updated on Contracts and Regulations

Commodity traders must know the rules of the game:

• Lot sizes, contract specifications, and expiry dates
• Position limits for traders and clients
• Intraday square-off timings, especially for MIS/BO/CO orders
• Margin changes announced by MCX during volatility

Lack of awareness can lead to penalties, forced exits, or unintended losses.

Example: If you forget that a contract is nearing expiry, you may be forced to roll over at a poor price or risk physical delivery obligations.

Conclusion

A successful new-age commodity derivatives trader combines market knowledge, rule-based trading, strict risk control, smart use of technology, and strong regulatory awareness. In a market where price swings are sharp and margins change frequently, discipline and capital preservation are the real competitive edge. By following these five practices, traders can navigate volatility confidently and build long-term success in commodity markets.

(The author is Head of Commodities Retail Business, Kotak Securities Ltd.)

Quant Small Cap Fund, the largest fund managed by Sandeep Tandon-led Quant Mutual Fund, has added HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and five other stocks in February. In the same time period, the small cap fund reduced its stake in Jio Financial Services and three other stocks.

In the month of February, the small cap fund added 73.85 lakh shares of Manappuram Finance, 42.65 lakh shares of ICICI Bank, and 13.95 lakh shares of HDFC Bank to its portfolio as new entrants.

Also Read | Starting late in mutual funds? Expert shares a Rs 40,000 SIP portfolio strategy for a 50-year-old

The other new entrants in the portfolio were Aurobindo Pharma, Emami, One Source Specialty Pharma, and Sudeep Pharma.

The stake was reduced in four stocks. The fund sold 2.95 crore shares of Jio Financial Services from the portfolio, taking the total share count to 3.08 crore in February versus 6.04 crore in January.

The other three stocks from which exposure was reduced were Aegis Logistics, BASF India, and Minda Corporation.
The small cap fund increased its stake in four stocks in the month of February, which included Black Box, Capri Global Capital, Marathon Nextgen Realty, and Ventive Hospitality. Among these four stocks, the maximum number of shares added to the portfolio were of Capri Global Capital, around 15.08 lakh.
A complete exit was made from Stanley Lifestyles in February by selling 6.72 lakh shares from its portfolio worth a market value of Rs 12.35 crore. The exposure in 85 stocks remained unchanged, which included some stocks such as Adani Green Energy, Adani Power, Anand Rathi Wealth, Aster DM Healthcare, Bata India, Castrol India, Gland Pharma, Just Dial, RBL Bank, Reliance Industries, and Sula Vineyards.
In February, the fund had 100 stocks in its portfolio compared to 94 stocks in the January portfolio. The fund had an AUM of Rs 27,654 crore as of February 27, 2026. The performance of the fund is benchmarked against NIFTY SMALLCAP 250 TRI and is managed by Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani, Ayusha Kumbhat, Yug Tibrewal, Sameer Kate, and Sanjeev Sharma.

The primary investment objective of the scheme is to seek to generate capital appreciation and provide long-term growth opportunities by investing in a portfolio of small cap companies.

According to the monthly release by the fund house, this scheme is for investors with a long-term investment horizon and a high risk appetite. The bulk of the portfolio is invested in high growth companies with attractive valuations and is relatively under-owned.

Also Read | Share of equity mutual funds in portfolio of women investor surge to 32% in 5 years : Report

During the month, the fund increased exposure towards healthcare companies and cut exposure to financial services and O&G, the release said.

“Our orientation towards maximising the mix of large caps over the last year in the portfolio is a reflection of our defensive view of the market. This has helped us increase the liquidity of the portfolio and mitigate the effects of high impact costs. As a result, drawdowns have been contained compared to the meltdown in the broader market,” the fund house said.

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

If you have any mutual fund queries, message ET Mutual Funds on Facebook or Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.