Periods of geopolitical tension or crisis, while unsettling at first glance, have historically presented some of the most compelling opportunities for long-term investors. What begins as turmoil often serves as the foundation for meaningful gains, with major market corrections during such times proving to be powerful inflection points for future returns.

Precious metals hit fresh peaks on Friday, with the yellow metal hitting Rs 1,13,800 per 10 grams, and silver crossing Rs 1,32,000 per kilogram in Delhi. The surge in the prices of gold and silver comes amid strong global demand and heightened expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve next week. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity extended gains for the fourth straight session by jumping Rs 700 to hit a record high of Rs 1,13,800 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had closed at Rs 1,13,100 per 10 grams in the previous market session.

Ankit Patel, Partner and Co-founder at Arunasset Investment Services, describes in an interview with us on how recent India-US trade talks on tariffs have been stalled because Washington has insisted on gaining access to India’s farm, dairy, and fisheries markets, something India continues to be reluctant to open up. But even under US pressure, including high tariffs, political realities particularly over Russian oil purchases complicate matters. Patel says tariff choices under the current US administration sometimes go against conventional policy logic, making trust a two-way street tricky.

The Delhi High Court has recently settled a long-standing ambiguity around the tax treatment of Category III Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). In its ruling in the Equity Intelligence AIF Trust case (July 29, 2025), the Court held that such funds cannot be classified as “indeterminate trusts” merely because the names of investors are not mentioned in the trust deed, so long as their beneficial interests are otherwise ascertainable.

There’s something about hitting your 30s that makes money feel very real. Maybe it’s the EMI reminders, or the wedding invites piling up, or just the growing sense that “I should probably be doing more with my income.” Whatever it is, this is the decade where your financial decisions start compounding, literally and metaphorically.

And no, it’s not too late. But it’s also not too early to start.