Financial Planning News 7 December 2025

Christmas Bank Holiday 2025 in India: Are Banks Open on December 24 and Closed on December 25? RBI State-wise List, Closures, and What to Do

New Delhi | December 24, 2025 — With Christmas week underway, many customers across India are double-checking branch timings after seeing mixed messages on social media, neighbourhood notices, and WhatsApp forwards. The key point: bank holidays in India are not uniform nationwide—they vary by state and are published in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar—which is why a bank branch can be open in one city and shut in another on the same date. The Times of India+1 Below is what the RBI holiday matrix for December 2025 and multiple December 24 reports indicate about bank operations on

25 December 2025

Christmas·Financial Planning

EPFO 3.0 Update 2025: New PF Withdrawal Rules After Job Loss, 36‑Month Pension Wait, Passbook Lite, and Key Changes EPF Members Must Know

New Delhi | December 24, 2025 A wave of year-end updates on December 24 put the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) back in the spotlight—this time for reforms that directly change how and when salaried Indians can access their Provident Fund (PF) and pension components, how smoothly PF transfers work when switching jobs, and how EPFO plans to modernise member services next. Free Press Journal+2LatestLY+2 At the centre of the conversation is the evolving “EPFO 3.0” umbrella—covering a mix of policy tweaks to withdrawal conditions and a broader push to make EPFO services feel more “bank-like”: faster, simpler, and more

25 December 2025

Financial Planning

How to Start Investing in the U.S. Stock Market in 2025: A Step‑by‑Step Beginner Guide (Accounts, ETFs, Taxes, and Today’s Market News)

The U.S. stock market is ending 2025 on a headline-making note: the Federal Reserve cut interest rates again on December 10, lowering the federal funds target range to 3.5%–3.75%, and U.S. stocks jumped on the news. Federal Reserve+2Reuters+2 If you’re new and searching “how to start investing in the U.S. stock market,” this is the most important thing to know first: you don’t need perfect timing. You need a plan you can stick with through good months and ugly ones. Below is a detailed, practical guide to getting started—plus the latest market and regulation developments that beginners should understand before

14 December 2025

ETFs·Financial Planning·Investing·Stock Market

How to Invest in Crypto in 2025: A Step‑by‑Step Guide to Bitcoin, Ethereum, ETFs, and Safer Storage

Bitcoin’s 2025 ride has been a reminder that “mainstream” doesn’t mean “stable.” Prices have swung sharply this year—Euronews noted Bitcoin’s October high around $125,000 and early‑December moves around the mid‑$80,000s to low‑$90,000s—while Ethereum and other major tokens have also faced steep pullbacks. euronews+1 At the same time, the infrastructure around crypto is rapidly changing. In the U.S., regulators are opening more doors for banks and regulated firms to participate in parts of crypto markets—while lawmakers have also pushed major new rules for stablecoins and continued debating broader crypto “market structure” legislation. Semafor+4Reuters+4OCC.gov+4 So how do you invest in crypto without treating it like a

14 December 2025

Bitcoin·Cryptocurrency·Ethereum·Financial Planning·Investing

Indian Oil (IOC) Declares ₹5 Interim Dividend for FY26: Record Date Dec 18, Payment by Jan 11 — Key Details, Eligibility, and TDS Rules

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC/IOCL) has approved an interim dividend of ₹5 per share for FY26. Here’s the record date, payment timeline, eligibility rules, and what the company said about TDS. New Delhi | Updated: December 14, 2025 — Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC/IOCL) has announced an interim dividend of ₹5 per equity share for the financial year 2025–26 (FY26), setting Thursday, December 18, 2025 as the record date to determine eligible shareholders. The company has indicated the dividend will be paid on or before January 11, 2026. The Economic Times+2Moneycontrol+2 The announcement triggered a positive market reaction on Friday’s session

14 December 2025

Dividends·Financial Planning·Investment News·NSE:IOC·Stock Market

Best Stocks to Buy Now in India (December 11, 2025): Top Picks and Market Outlook for 2026

Updated: December 11, 2025 – Educational, not investment advice. 1. Indian Stock Market Today: Context You Can’t Ignore Indian equities are trading higher on 11 December 2025 after the US Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 bps overnight. Mid‑session, the Sensex hovered around 84,700 (up ~0.4%) and the Nifty 50 around 25,900 (up ~0.5%), with most sectors in the green.Business Standard+ 1 This follows yesterday’s mild correction, where the Sensex closed near 84,391 and Nifty 50 at 25,758 , while mid‑caps and small‑caps fell around 1% and 0.9% respectively—reminding investors that underneath the headline indices, the ride is still bumpy.Goodreturns

11 December 2025

Financial Planning·Indian Economy·Investment Tips·Market Analysis·NSE:BHARTIARTL·NSE:HDFCBANK·NSE:LT·NSE:MM·NSE:RELIANCE·Stock Market

Best Stocks to Buy Now in India (10 December 2025): Analyst-Backed Ideas for 2026 and Beyond

India’s stock market is pausing for breath just below record highs, but the research desks are busy rolling out fresh “buy” lists for 2026. On Tuesday, the Nifty 50 closed at 25,839.65 and the Sensex at 84,666.28, both down about half a percent ahead of the US Fed meeting.mint Yet the bigger picture still looks constructive. The Nifty trades on a price‑to‑earnings (P/E) multiple of about 22.5, close to the top of its one‑year range, signalling that earnings growth – not multiple expansion – now has to do the heavy lifting.Trendlyne.com Citi Research expects the index to climb to 28,500

10 December 2025

Analyst Insights·Financial Planning·Indian Economy·Investment Tips·Stock Market

Best Stocks to Buy in India Right Now (December 9, 2025): Top Ideas, Sectors and 2026 Outlook

Indian investors woke up today to another red screen. The Sensex has dropped more than 1,300 points in just two sessions and the Nifty 50 is down nearly 2% as worries over the India–US trade deal, possible new US tariffs on Indian rice, and caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve decision weigh on sentiment.Free Press Journal+ 1 Yet, even as the market corrects near all‑time highs, global and domestic brokerages are turning more constructive on Indian equities for 2026 , with fresh lists of “top stocks to buy” now out from Motilal Oswal, Nomura, Axis Securities and others.The Economic

9 December 2025

Financial Planning·Indian Economy·Investment Tips·Market Analysis·Stock Market

Best Stocks to Buy Now on the Australian Stock Market (ASX) – December 2025 Guide

Australia’s sharemarket is in an odd mood right now: the S&P/ASX 200 is hovering in the mid‑8500s after several sessions of flat, slightly negative trading, as investors wait for the next move from the Reserve Bank of Australia.The Australian+1Beneath that sleepy headline index, though, you’ve got big rotations: materials are up more than 26% year to date and leading every other sector, while the heavyweight financials have recently suffered one of their worst months since 2022.Livewire Markets+1 That mix – booming miners, wobbling banks, and a cautious central bank – is exactly the kind of backdrop where “best stocks to

9 December 2025

Financial Planning·Investing·Stock Market

Best Stocks to Buy Now: 12 Ideas for the US Stock Market Today (December 8, 2025)

The US stock market is starting the week near record highs, with the S&P 500 around the 6,870–6,880 level and the US500 futures index up about 0.1% as investors look ahead to this week’s Federal Reserve rate decision.Trading Economics+1 Tech shares are again leading early gains, and talk of a potential “Santa Claus rally” is popping up across Wall Street commentary.Nasdaq+1 Against that backdrop, many investors are asking a familiar question: what are the best stocks to buy now on the US market today, December 8, 2025? This article pulls together fresh analyst calls, earnings surprises, and new “Strong Buy” ratings from December 8 and

8 December 2025

Financial Planning·Market Trends·NASDAQ:NVDA

Best UK Stocks to Buy Today (8 December 2025): 7 FTSE 100 Ideas for a Potential Rate‑Cut Era

Updated: 8 December 2025 – UK market close The UK stock market has quietly turned into one of 2025’s star performers. The FTSE 100 is trading around 9,660 and has delivered a total return of roughly 20–23% year‑to‑date, one of its best years since the aftermath of the financial crisis.Investors Chronicle+2Wealth DFM+2 At the same time, the Bank of England (BoE) has held Bank Rate at 4% since August, with inflation down to about 3.6% and markets heavily betting on a first quarter‑point cut to 3.75% at the 18 December meeting. A Reuters poll in mid‑November found nearly 80% of economists expect that cut, with many

8 December 2025

Financial Planning·FTSE 100·Investment Tips·LSE:AZN.L·LSE:BP.L·LSE:DGE.L·LSE:GSK.L·LSE:HSBA.L·LSE:SHEL.L·LSE:ULVR.L·Stock Market·UK Economy

Christmas 2025 Bank Transfers Blocked for Four Days in the Euro Area: What TARGET2’s Shutdown Means for Your Salary, Rent and Bills

From 25 to 28 December 2025, most standard euro bank transfers between different banks will be paused across the euro area. This planned shutdown of the European Central Bank’s payment system (T2, still widely called TARGET2) is already making headlines in France and beyond, because it falls right on Christmas and rolls straight into the weekend.Fédération bancaire française+1 Some media posts and social networks have turned this into apocalyptic “your money will be blocked” rumours. In reality, the situation is serious enough to plan for – especially if you’re expecting a salary, rent payment or large transfer – but much

7 December 2025

Banking·Financial Planning·Holidays

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Halma share price: Friday’s lift sets up what investors watch next week

7 February 2026

Halma shares closed up 0.7% at 3,548 pence on Friday, valuing the group at about £13.4 billion. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% in a split vote, keeping rate-cut speculation in focus. Halma’s next trading update is set for March 12. The FTSE 100 ended the week up 0.6%, lifted by bank stocks.

Diageo share price slips into the weekend as investors eye Feb. 25 results

7 February 2026

Diageo shares closed down 1.48% at 1,760 pence on Friday, trailing a 0.59% gain in the FTSE 100. An updated analyst consensus points to a 2.0% fall in first-half organic net sales ahead of interim results due Feb. 25. Trading volume was light, and the stock remains over 22% below its 52-week high.

National Grid share price: what to know before London reopens after BoE signal

7 February 2026

National Grid shares closed at 1,285 pence in London on Friday, up 0.23%. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% after a close vote, signaling possible cuts if inflation falls. National Grid announced a wireless power transmission study with Space Solar and marked five years of IFA2 interconnector operations. Its U.S. ADR ended at $88.06, up $1.17.

BAE Systems share price rises into weekend — what to watch before Monday’s London open

7 February 2026

BAE Systems shares closed up 1.2% at 1,879 pence on Friday, tracking gains in European defence stocks. The company’s market value stands near £54.8 billion. Investors await BAE’s full-year results on Feb. 18 for updates on cash returns and orders. GXO Logistics renewed and expanded its contract to support BAE’s Type 26 frigate program in Scotland.

Financial Planning News 7 December 2025 - 25 December 2025

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