Markets regulator Sebi has warned investors against putting money into digital or e-gold products, cautioning that such instruments fall outside its regulatory framework and carry significant risks, PTI reported.The advisory follows Sebi’s observation that several online platforms have been promoting “digital gold” or “e-gold” as a convenient alternative to physical gold, without disclosing that these are unregulated products.“In this context, it is informed that such digital gold products are different from Sebi-regulated gold products as they are neither notified as securities nor regulated as commodity derivatives. They operate entirely outside the purview of Sebi,” the regulator said in a statement.Sebi warned that these offerings “may entail significant risks for investors and may expose investors to counterparty and operational risks.” It also clarified that investor protection mechanisms applicable to regulated securities do not extend to such unregulated schemes.The regulator advised that investors seeking exposure to gold should use Sebi-regulated instruments, including Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) offered by mutual funds, exchange-traded commodity derivatives, and Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) that are tradable on recognised stock exchanges.“All investments in Sebi-regulated gold products must be made through registered intermediaries and are governed by the regulatory framework prescribed by the regulator,” Sebi said.The advisory is aimed at protecting retail investors from unregulated entities that offer gold-backed digital investment options without sufficient safeguards, leaving investors vulnerable to fraud or default.

India and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to conclude the second phase of their Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) at the earliest, as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held talks with his Australian counterpart Don Farrell to review the progress of negotiations, PTI reported.According to an official statement, both sides agreed to work “constructively towards the early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial CECA.”The meeting reviewed the progress made under ongoing negotiations and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment linkages. The ministers also explored avenues to expand cooperation across goods, services, and emerging sectors.The first phase of the trade pact — the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) — came into effect in December 2022, marking a key milestone in the two countries’ economic engagement.India’s bilateral merchandise trade with Australia stood at $24.1 billion in 2024–25, with exports growing 14% in 2023–24 and a further 8% in 2024–25, the statement said.Both sides expressed confidence that the early conclusion of CECA would unlock new opportunities for businesses and contribute to deeper strategic and economic ties between the two Indo-Pacific partners.