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With the beginning of the new financial year, many new investors who are looking to start their mutual fund SIP journey in this financial year, mutual fund experts recommend investing in a mix of large cap and flexi cap, consider gold for hedging against global uncertainties and silver can be avoided at this point.Sagar Shinde, VP Research at Fisdom told ETMutualFunds that for FY27, SIP allocations should focus on a balanced mix led by large cap and flexi cap funds, which offer better stability and earnings visibility in the current phase of valuation consolidation.Also Read | Planning child education with mutual funds? Expert suggests right fund mix and key portfolio tweaks“Midcaps can be added selectively for growth, while small caps should be limited and approached only through SIPs due to higher volatility.”In terms of commodities, gold can be considered (around 5–10%) as a hedge against global uncertainty and currency risks, silver can be avoided at this point, as a large part of its future expectations appears to be already priced into current valuations, limiting near-term upside, he further said.Another expert, Arjun Guha Thakurta, Executive Director, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited shared with ETMutualFunds that investors should have a long term investment strategy in place which they will follow for the long term and can have a 55% exposure to large cap and the rest in mid and small caps.Thakurta further said that investors can view gold as a defence asset in the portfolio, replacing debt. Hence exposure should be within the 20% allocation of debt in the total portfolio. Investment can be done through Gold ETFs. We do not recommend investing in silver due to its poor risk adjusted performance over the long term.SIP strategyWith investors wondering whether to increase, decrease or maintain the same SIP amount and whether it is relevant to take international exposure during the ongoing geopolitical tensions, experts recommend continuing with ongoing SIPs and stepping up afterwards. Investors should avoid the mistake of cutting SIPs during volatile phases, as these periods aid long-term accumulationThakurta said that investors in FY26 should focus on disciplined investing and not change their strategy based on short term market movements and we recommend that 20-40% of one’s income inflows should be directed towards SIP investments, every month and if possible, stepping up your SIP every year is also an effective strategy for long term wealth creation. He further said that international funds can offer exposure to global markets, but they do have a track record for volatility and uneven performance. Hence, investors are best avoiding relying heavily on them and they would benefit more from an SIP in diversified domestic equity funds over the long term, as they provide stronger long-term growth and better risk-adjusted returns.To this, Shinde said that given the current market environment marked by valuation consolidation and resilient domestic fundamentals, the ideal approach for FY27 is to continue SIPs and gradually increase them rather than reduce exposure. A limited international allocation (around 10–15%) can also be considered to diversify geographically, capture opportunities outside India, and benefit from currency depreciation. However, given the limited mutual fund options currently available, investors should be selective—evaluate the geography, underlying holdings, and strategy before allocating, and invest only if it fits the overall portfolio requirement. Alternatively, international exposure can also be explored through routes like GIFT City, Shinde further said.Also Read | MF Tracker: This flexicap fund turns Rs 10,000 SIP to Rs 1.35 crore in over 2 decadesHow to deal with SIPs in underperforming funds Many mutual fund investors wonder what to do with the SIPs in the fund that are offering negative returns or are underperforming compared to their respective peers or benchmarks and when should one decide to book profits from their SIP investments. In response to this, Shinde said SIPs in underperforming funds should not be discontinued solely based on short-term performance and if the underperformance is recent or driven by broader category trends, and the fund’s strategy and management remain consistent, it is prudent to continue. However, a switch should be considered if a fund has consistently underperformed over a short and longer period or ranks persistently in the bottom quartile, or exhibits style drift or management concerns. He further said that profit booking in SIP investments should be guided by disciplined asset allocation rather than market timing and investors should rebalance when equity exposure exceeds their target allocation or when specific segments such as mid and small caps become disproportionately large. Gains can then be redeployed into safer assets like debt or gold, rather than exiting equity entirely.While asking investors to define what an underperforming fund is, Thakurta said investors should look at the fund’s performance across various time periods and over the long term to see if the underperformance currently is due to market corrections, which is normal, or if the fund has consistently been in the bottom quartile of its category or failed to beat its benchmark over the long term so it is the latter, then they can consider switching.Investors should also look at different parameters to assess whether a fund is suitable in their portfolio, such as market cap allocation, fund manager strategy, AMC track record, etc, he added.Mistakes to avoidMany mutual fund investors invest in any fund without realising if the fund aligns with their risk appetite, investment horizon, and financial goals. Most of them invest in NFOs or go with the options where others are investing.While mentioning what mistakes to avoid, Tharkurta said while planning for SIPs for FY27, investors should ensure they have their investment goals in place and formulate their strategy accordingly. One of the top mistakes investors make is stopping or pausing their SIPs in times of volatility. Market swings are part of normal market cycles and investors should stay invested and not panic sell. As a second mistake, Thakurta said that skipping SIPs is also common among investors, and instead they should prioritize investing before planning their expenses. Half yearly review of portfolio should be done to assess one’s asset allocation and goal alignment, and yearly review should be done to revisit financial goals, risk profile, income changes and tax planning. If there is any misalignment, they can bring it back to ensure it is in line with what was intended.Also Read | All investments in green? Here’s how to realign your mutual fund portfolioShinde said that investors should avoid common pitfalls such as stopping SIPs during market corrections, chasing recently top-performing funds, over-allocating to high-risk segments like small caps, or holding an excessively large number of funds, which leads to portfolio clutter. He further said that ignoring asset allocation discipline is another critical mistake. Instead, investors should maintain consistency, focus on long-term compounding, and periodically rebalance their portfolios. SIP strategies do not require frequent changes; a review every six months is sufficient for monitoring, while a more detailed review and rebalancing exercise can be undertaken annually to ensure alignment with financial goals and market conditions.(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 on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/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.

Gold and silver prices extended losses in the afternoon, trading sharply lower on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) of India on Monday, as rising tensions in the Middle East and inflation concerns driven by higher crude oil prices strengthened expectations of elevated global interest rates.MCX silver futures due May 2026 fell Rs 26,262, or 11.5%, to Rs 2,00,510 per kg. Meanwhile, gold futures for April 2026 delivery declined Rs 12,984, or 9%, to Rs 1,31,508 per 10 grams.In the international market, gold prices fell sharply on Monday, declining more than 5% reaching its weakest level of 2026. Gold prices recorded their steepest weekly decline in 43 years, falling more than 10% last week and closing below $4,500 per troy ounce in the spot market on Friday.How should you trade gold?Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvi Finmart noted that both gold and silver are witnessing very high volatility, with silver likely to face strong resistance near $80 per troy ounce and gold around $4,840 in the near term.He added that prices are expected to remain volatile in today’s session amid fluctuations in the dollar index, crude oil prices, and the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Gold has support in the $4,505–$4,440 range and resistance between $4,600-$4,664 per troy ounce, while silver has support at $64.00–$60.00 and resistance at $72.40-$76.00 per troy ounce.On the MCX, gold has support at Rs 1,42,200-Rs 1,39,100 and resistance at Rs 1,46,000-Rs 1,47,700, while silver has support at Rs 2,18,000-Rs 2,10,000 and resistance at Rs 2,32,000-Rs 2,37,700. Jain advised traders to wait for stability in precious metals before taking fresh positions, while suggesting that small investors continue gradual accumulation through SIP mode amid the current market correction.Gold rates in physical marketsGold price today in DelhiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Delhi stand at Rs 1,07,152 per 8 grams, while pure gold (24 carat) prices are at Rs 1,29,888 per 8 grams.Gold price today in MumbaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Mumbai stand at Rs 1,07,032 per 8 grams, while pure gold (24 carat) prices are at Rs 1,16,768 per 8 grams.Gold price today in ChennaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Chennai stand at Rs 1,08,952 per 8 grams, while pure gold (24 carat) prices are at Rs 1,18,856 per 8 grams.Gold price today in HyderabadStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Hyderabad stand at Rs 1,07,032 per 8 grams, while pure gold (24 carat) prices are at Rs 1,16,768 per 8 grams.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Omer Ashraf isn’t losing any sleep over the impact of the Iran conflict on his fleet of energy-hungry cement plants. The Chief Financial Officer of Pakistan’s Fauji Cement Co. installed its first solar array in 2019 at Jhang Bhatar, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the capital Islamabad. There are now 69 megawatts of panels across the company’s five main sites, at least twice what Tesla Inc. appears to have on the rooftops of its gigafactories in Nevada and Texas. They contribute about 23% of the company’s electricity, with a further 35% coming from recovering waste heat from its coal-fired clinker kilns.Also Read: India's OMCs plan smaller LPG cylinders to boost supplyThe cost is just 5 to 6 rupees (about two cents) per kilowatt hour, around a fifth of grid prices, Ashraf told me. On-site gas-fired generators are available as back-up, but are barely used these days, given the cheaper options. There won’t be a major impact from the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, he said.He’s not alone. In Pakistan and India, once key customers for the Persian Gulf’s liquefied natural gas exports, energy-hungry industries have been rapidly shifting away from both gas and grid power to make use of cheap, abundant solar energy.Bangladesh, for years South Asia’s economic success story, made the opposite bet. That was the wrong decision. With the world’s largest LNG terminal, Qatar’s Ras Laffan, shut down and suffering extensive damage from Iranian attacks this week, a fifth of global supplies are now offline.129742353Solar’s advantages are most apparent in the textile business. Since the Industrial Revolution spread through England’s cotton mills in the 18th century, garment factories have been many countries’ first step toward development. Clean energy is speeding the process.India’s apparel plants now derive about 28% of their electricity from renewables, according to a recent study by Moody’s Corp. affiliate ICRA ESG Ratings. Large factory roofs make installation of solar arrays straightforward.Also Read: The Saudi oil pipeline the world didn’t know it neededPlenty are already surging ahead of rich-world companies in their clean power ambitions. Pakistan’s Nishat Mills Ltd. and Interloop Ltd., which supply Gap Inc. and Hennes & Mauritz AB, respectively have 35 MW and 25 MW of photovoltaic panels, comfortably on a par with Tesla. Bengaluru-based Gokaldas Exports Ltd., whose customers include Adidas AG, derives 79% of its energy from solar, biomass and other clean sources. Green motivations aren’t completely absent. Fashion companies have for many years been under pressure to clean up their supply chains. That trend is being accelerated by the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which came into force this year and adds a sort of tariff onto imports equivalent to the carbon price they’d have paid if manufactured locally. Exporters who build out renewables will spare themselves those levies.But the payoff in power bills is sufficient to justify the switch. Solar provided electricity equivalent to a fifth of Pakistan’s grid power in the year through March 2024, the most recent available data, according to Renewables First, a pro-energy transition group. This has left the country with less need for imported LNG.About 35 gas shipments are now being diverted every year because they’re not needed, said a recent report by AKD Securities Ltd., equivalent to about a quarter of typical import volumes. This has already spared Pakistan about $12 billion of spending on imported LNG and oil and could save a further $7 billion this year, wrote Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.Countries that threw in their lot with LNG are in a tighter spot. Bangladesh, whose 4,000-odd garment factories are key suppliers for the global fast-fashion industry, has been far slower to switch to renewables. Just 1.6 gigawatts of solar has been connected nationwide, compared to as much as 34 GW in Pakistan. Import tariffs for photovoltaic equipment of nearly 30% deter businesses from deploying rooftop power. While Pakistan’s LNG imports have shrunk since the Ukraine war, Bangladesh’s have almost doubled.With the crisis in Hormuz disrupting supplies of gas and diesel for back-up generators, the country’s utilities are now scrambling to get their hands on coal, which costs almost twice as much as gas on the grid. Those shortages, combined with the effect of energy-related inflation on garment worker wages, will erode Bangladesh’s longstanding cost advantage over rival apparel factories elsewhere in the region.It’s a far cry from the banal truisms used to market gas to emerging economies. As missiles flew across the Persian Gulf and buyers scratched around for alternative supplies, Shell Plc’s annual LNG outlook hailed the fuel as a “stabilizing force in the energy system.” About 70% of demand growth out to 2040 will come from Asia, Shell wrote, “because it is versatile, flexible, and reliable.” That’s a remarkable assertion amidst the chaos of 2026. In future, gas producers are going to need more than platitudes to convince customers they’re worth the risk.