Surabhi Upadhyay

Surabhi Upadhyay Peter McGuire, CEO of trading.com believes that it is too early to talk about shorting Silver, even as the precious metals has seen sharp swings from record high levels on Monday.

After a muted year for Indian equities despite a positive return, two leading market experts outline how investors should recalibrate portfolios for 2026—detailing optimal equity exposure, the case for gold over debt, global diversification, and why disciplined asset allocation may trump stock picking in the year ahead.

The rally in gold, silver and copper is no longer just cyclical. Experts say US debt fears, dollar uncertainty and supply constraints are driving a structural shift towards metals as core assets.

New Income Tax Act 2025 simplifies law with fewer sections and a single tax year, but dual compliance in transition may confuse taxpayers.

Axis Mutual Fund warns investors chasing equities to not ignore debt funds, citing geopolitical risks, volatile yields, rising inflation and the stabilising role of short term bond funds

Investor behaviour in gold is undergoing a marked shift, with rising ETF inflows, increased retail participation and higher trading activity reshaping the metal's traditional role. Experts point to central bank buying, liquidity-driven corrections and global uncertainties as key factors influencing both demand and volatility.

Experts say sector rotation funds can help investors capture shifting market opportunities, but caution that timing, allocation discipline and professional management are crucial to avoid common retail mistakes.

Nasser Salim, Managing Director at Flexi Capital, believes investors may need to look beyond traditional diversified funds if markets remain range-bound. He said tactical themes could play a bigger role in portfolios, especially for investors willing to take measured risks.

After a steep fall from their recent peaks, gold and silver now present different investment cases. While gold may enter a period of consolidation, analysts believe silver's industrial demand, supply deficit and sharper correction could support stronger returns for investors willing to accept higher volatility.

SEBI's proposed MF-PMS framework could reshape how affluent investors access professional portfolio management, experts said. The model may help portfolio managers build diversified portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs and other regulated products, while direct plans could offer a cost advantage. Experts also highlighted the importance of manager track records as greater flexibility could bring wider differences in PMS performance.