Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to remain as England Test captain despite the controversy over a breach of team protocol, arguing that the all-rounder has made a mistake but should not lose his job because of the incident.

Writing in The Telegraph, Vaughan said Stokes had clearly crossed a line by breaking the team curfew, but questioned whether the offense was serious enough that he should be removed as captain.

Vaughan wrote, “Yes, Ben Stokes broke curfew. Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a dismissable offense as England’s Test captain? I don’t think so.”

The former England captain said that although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has every right to take disciplinary action, he disagrees with any move to remove Stokes from the leadership role.

Vaughan wrote, “The ECB has to be brave and strong enough to do what it thinks is right. If it has to be sacked then so be it, but I do not agree with that decision on this issue.”

Vaughan’s defense of Stokes comes at a time when the England captain’s future has become a major talking point following a breach of team protocol. While acknowledging that disciplinary action may be necessary, Vaughan argued that punishment should be proportionate to the crime.

The former captain said one should not automatically lose the captaincy due to an error in judgment, especially considering the role Stokes has played in England’s recent success in Test cricket.

curfew violation investigation

Stokes will not play in England’s second test against New Zealand at the Oval following an incident at a London nightclub earlier this week.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson defied the team’s midnight curfew after celebrating England’s first Test win over New Zealand on Monday morning. The pair were present when a member of England’s security staff was attacked by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auwa.

The security staff member was reportedly left bloodied and required medical treatment following the incident.

The ECB confirmed on Monday evening that it was investigating a breach of team protocol, while both Stokes and Atkinson Investigation is also being done by the cricket regulator.

With Stokes unavailable, England have turned to former captain Joe Root to lead the side at The Oval, sidelining Harry Brook despite his vice-captain role.

The ECB has denied reports that Stokes has been asked to resign and have instead given the 35-year-old time to consider his options.

brooke case

A significant part of Vaughan’s argument focused on what he believed was the ECB’s inconsistent handling of the previous disciplinary case involving Brook.

“The problem for ECB chief executive Richard Gould and cricket director Rob Key is that their poor handling of the Brook situation has set a precedent,” Vaughan wrote.

Brooke was involved in a nightclub incident in Wellington In October, the night before he was to captain England in a One Day International against New Zealand. The batsman was hit by a bouncer, details of the incident became public months later.

Following an investigation by the regulator of cricket, Brook received a final warning and was fined, while teammates Jacob Bethel and Josh Tongue were also investigated. No action was taken against Tong.

According to Vaughan, the ECB’s decision to allow Brook to remain captain while imposing only a financial penalty weakened its authority in dealing with future disciplinary breaches.

Vaughan wrote, “He allowed him to continue as captain, suppressed it and by being so lenient put himself in a position where he had to take strict action on any other minor breach of team rules in the future.”

calls for fellowship

Vaughan also questioned whether financial penalties alone are enough to deter players from repeating mistakes.

He wrote, “They fined Brooks, not a suspension. Fines are nothing to these boys. So when people at the highest levels of management allow a team to do a lot, don’t be surprised if it happens again.”

With Stokes and Atkinson under investigation, the ECB faces a key decision on how to respond. While Vaughan acknowledged that the England captain made an error in judgment, he believes that one lapse should not be enough to end Stokes’ tenure as captain.

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The district administration also directed officials to seek clarification from their subordinate staff and submit detailed, fact-based reports along with supporting documents

Ghaziabad: : The district administration has issued show cause notices to five officials whose performance was found to be well below the target set during a recent review of preparations for the ongoing census exercise.According to officials, a review of the House Listing Block (HLB) work revealed a substantial gap between the number of blocks allotted and the number of blocks completed in many urban and semi-urban areas of the district. The Administration found that despite repeated instructions and monitoring, progress in these areas was well below expectations.District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar directed officials to explain the reasons for the poor progress in their respective jurisdictions and warned that negligence in completing census duties could attract action under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, besides departmental disciplinary proceedings.Data reviewed by the district administration showed that in Modinagar, only 96 out of 253 allotted HLBs were completed, while in Khoda Municipality, 383 out of 1,040 allotted blocks were completed. Loni Municipality reported that 842 out of 1,393 HLBs were completed, while only 83 out of 173 allotted blocks in Muradnagar recorded progress. The performance of Loni tehsil administration was also found deficient, only 62 out of 152 HLBs could be completed.In a notice issued to the officials concerned, Mandar described the pace of work as “extremely slow and unsatisfactory” and said it was not in line with the targets set by the state and central government. He also said that the Chief Secretary had expressed displeasure over the slow progress of census preparations in some areas.Officials said the administration has held several review meetings and has repeatedly directed officials to closely monitor the work of enumerators and supervisors. However, the expected improvement was not visible on the ground. The notice said it appears that the authorities concerned have failed to ensure effective supervision and accountability among the field staff, resulting in delay in completion of the exercise.The district administration also directed officials to seek clarification from their subordinate staff and submit detailed, fact-based reports along with supporting documents. Officials said the replies would be carefully examined and if the explanations were found unsatisfactory, strict action could be initiated.The administration stressed that timely completion of the house listing phase is important for the smooth implementation of the nationwide census program and warned that any delay will be viewed seriously.

TimesofIndia.com in Mohali: A day after getting the green signal from the Center of Excellence (CoE), Rohit Sharma IS Bindra looked in good form during India’s optional training session at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday.Rohit Sharma was the first one to step out of the team bus, and security officials and Punjab Police personnel took out their phones as the former India captain was flooded with selfie requests. He scored a few runs before going straight to the pavilion. The 39-year-old started with a light jog with his former Mumbai Indians opening partner Ishan Kishan before heading out to bat in the open nets.Rohit looked a little rough initially when Nitish Kumar Reddy hit the ball on his pads. But as the sun started setting, the right-handed batsman started looking in great form. Flicks, pulls, cuts and drives were all on display. None of the fast bowlers like Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar or Prince Sharma were able to trouble them.Rohit shared the fast bowling net Shreyas IyerAfter each over both batsmen finish switching. Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal became aggressive against the spinners in the side nets.After a good 45 minutes against the fast bowlers, Rohit Sharma was involved in a chat with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Next, he moved to the spinner nets, where he faced left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey and the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) net bowlers. One thing was missing in Rohit’s batting that he never performed aggressively on the wicket against spinners or fast bowlers. He finished the session with fielding coach T Dilip taking some high catches.India’s new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer also looked in good form. The dashing batsman, who plays for Sobo Mumbai Falcons in the Mumbai T20 League, hardly looked troubled. Gurnoor Brar tested him with short-pitched balls.Except for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played the only Test against Afghanistan in New Mullanpur, they opted out of the training session. Notable absentees were captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar.India won this test match by an innings and 300 runs. The first ODI of the three-match series will be played in Dharamshala on Saturday (June 13), followed by matches in Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20.

Dana White (Image via Getty)

UFC CEO Dana White is already building excitement for the upcoming lightweight title bout between Ilya Topuria and Justin Gaethje. The two stars are set to meet at UFC White House on June 14 as part of the America250 celebration and many fans believe it could be one of the most action-packed fights of the year. Topuria started the fight with great energy. Recent years have seen the reigning champion go unbeatable, and he has taken out some of the top names in the sport. Meanwhile, Gaethje is still one of MMA’s most aggressive and knockout powerful fighters and one of the most dangerous.Speaking to UFC on TNT Sports, White shared why he believes the matchup is so exciting. He pointed to the strengths of both fighters and said that fans should expect an exciting fight when they finally step into the cage together. White was particularly impressed by Topuria’s confidence and ability to thrive under pressure. The UFC boss believes quality is one of the biggest reasons why the Georgian-Spanish fighter has become such a dominant force in the two weight classes.

Dana White praises Ilya Topuria as Darius du Plessis reveals Justin Gaethje’s potential path to victory

While discussing the fight with UFC on TNT Sports, White praised Topuria’s recent performance and highlighted his fearless approach. “Imagine him and Gaethje going toe-to-toe. Both guys have the ability… to have nasty, nasty knockout power. Do you understand? This kid doesn’t back down. He just comes in with complete confidence in his hands, complete confidence on his chin, knocking out guys who have never been knocked out before.“The numbers support White’s praise. Topuria’s professional record is 17–0, with 15 total wins. Gaethje, meanwhile, has a record of 27-5 and has earned 20 knockout wins during his career.Yet not everyone believes the fight is one-sided. UFC middleweight champion Darius du Plessis shared a different thought during a recent interview with Fight Forecast. He believes Gaethje has the tools necessary to challenge the undefeated champion.“He’s not intimidated. He’s not afraid of Ilya Topuria. Ilya is very calculating, and he hits very hard. I believe Ilya has much better grappling and wrestling. I believe the key to his victory will be his leg kicks.”Du Plessis also suggested that Gaethje should avoid trading at close range for a long period.“He has devastating leg kicks. Ilya has been dropped with head kicks many times before in his career. So, using those kicks, setting up, but not standing up and hitting in that pocket. That’s not going to be his answer. Setting up that knockout shot, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Patna: : Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday transferred Rs 1,100 to the bank accounts of over 94 lakh beneficiaries of various social security schemes. Narendra Modi Set the record for being the country’s longest serving elected Prime Minister.The Chief Minister transferred funds under six schemes of the state government, including to senior citizens, widows and disabled persons, during a program organized here. Bihar Bhavan in New Delhi.“A total amount of around Rs 1,100 crore was transferred on Wednesday,” a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.Last year, the state government had increased the monthly pension of senior citizens, widows and disabled people from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 per month.Speaking on the occasion, the CM said, “It is the responsibility of our government to provide social security to the poor, underprivileged and needy sections of Bihar. We provide the benefits of various social security pensions to the elderly, widows and disabled persons above 60 years of age. On the auspicious occasion of PM Narendra Modi Ji completing the longest tenure as the elected Prime Minister, today we are crediting almost Rs 1,100 per month in the accounts of more than 94 lakh people. We are sending an amount of Rs 1,100 crore.” Beneficiaries of these schemes.”He said that from now on, the state government will transfer the amount to the accounts of the beneficiaries on the 10th of every month.The CM also said that people aged 60 years or above who are not getting the benefits of the Social Security Pension Scheme should apply soon to get the benefits. Also, people who are deprived of pension due to the Aadhaar number not being linked, should link their Aadhaar soon and avail the benefits of the Social Security Pension Scheme.CM’s Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and Local Commissioner Manoj Kumar were present at Bihar Bhawan, while State Social Welfare Minister Shweta Gupta, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Additional Chief Secretary HR Srinivas, District Magistrates of all the districts and beneficiaries were connected through video conferencing.

There are only a few hours left for the World Cup to start and the whole world is in a festive mood. The situation is no different in God’s own country, Kerala, where World Cup fever has gripped every corner of the state. A journey from Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north offers a glimpse of the passion that Malayalees have for this beautiful game. Huge cutouts, flags and banners of their favorite teams and players are put up across the state, turning towns and villages into vibrant football grounds.

Brazil’s iconic yellow and green painted houses, murals Lionel Messi holding the 2022 World Cup trophyAnd giant cutouts of Cristiano Ronaldo with messages announcing that he is coming to conquer the world are among the scenes in Kerala that have attracted global attention. Fan rallies organized by supporters from different countries also took place in many parts of the state, showcasing the rivalry, which at times seems more intense than the recently concluded elections.

Visitors to Rajaji Nagar, also known as Chengalchula in Thiruvananthapuram, are welcomed with the flags of Brazil, Argentina and Portugal. While their favorite teams battle it out on the field, local fans participate in a different competition through an ongoing flex-board battle. Chengalchula has also produced a number of talented football players over the years, reflecting the region’s deep association with the game.

It’s no surprise that Brazil has the biggest fan base here. Vinil, one of the leading faces of the local Brazil supporters group, has even created a song dedicated to his favorite team.

He says, “Brazil has more fans here. Argentina, Portugal and France also have fans. Everyone understands football very well. They have become fans not just because of the World Cup, but by watching the game closely. Everyone plays well too. We don’t have enough facilities to encourage them.”

For 17-year-old Nikhil, a devoted fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, the World Cup represents hope. He dreams of seeing his idol finally achieving the highest award and lifting the trophy.

The Portuguese superstar has virtually taken over the hall of Nikhil’s house in Rajaji Nagar. Ronaldo’s iconic No. 7 jersey, memorabilia from the clubs he has represented, photographs of him with Ballon d’Or trophies and a hand-painted portrait by Nikhil himself make the room feel like a private museum dedicated to the football icon.

Nikhil’s parents also bought a new big television to ensure that he did not miss a single moment of the tournament.

“There are fewer Portugal fans here compared to others. Everyone shows their support through posters and flex boards. But we hope Cristiano wins it this time,” he says.

Nikhil recalls becoming a fan of Ronaldo at a very young age after watching him play and says he still admires the Portuguese star’s mentality and determination.

Another resident, Suraj, heads the local committee that organizes football festivals in the area. He is particularly proud of the young footballers emerging from the neighbourhood.

He says, “The FIFA World Cup is like Onam for us. In fact, I think every Malayali celebrates the World Cup with even more enthusiasm than Onam. We have many talented players here. One of them, Srikuttan, plays for Kerala Blasters. But there are not enough facilities to help him reach greater heights.”

Like many others, Suraj hopes that future generations will get better infrastructure and opportunities to develop their football talent.

Kerala’s love affair with football It is going viral again and again on social media. Videos depicting the state’s World Cup celebrations have attracted worldwide attention, with football fans in countries such as Brazil and Argentina expressing amazement at the passion displayed thousands of kilometers from their homeland.

Yet, beyond the colors, celebrations and rivalries, there is a shared spirit that unites fans. This tournament could mark the final World Cup appearances for Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar – three players who have defined an era. Some are hoping that one of them will sign off with a trophy, while others are awaiting the arrival of football’s next global superstar.

Whatever unfolds in the coming weeks, one thing is certain. Football in Kerala is more than a game. It’s a tradition passed down through generations, a shared language that transcends age and background, and a passion that refuses to fade away. Long after the final whistle has blown and champions have been crowned, the flags will come down, but the love for the game will remain as strong as ever.

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AI image used for representation purposes

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is ready to hit the stock market this week. According to various analysts, this could become the largest stock market debut in history, with the company expected to raise approximately $75 billion at a valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion.Elon Musk is expected to reserve an unusually large portion of the offering for individual investors, potentially more than 20 percent of the shares on sale, compared to 5-7 percent typically allocated in an IPO. Brokerages are bracing for demand that could far exceed supply as retail investors look for a chance to buy into a company that has been largely inaccessible during its two decades as a private enterprise, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.For many of these investors, the appeal goes beyond SpaceX’s business fundamentals. It’s also a bet on Musk, whose supporters helped turn Tesla into one of the world’s most valuable companies and whose ventures continue to attract loyal followers.

Should you invest? What investors and analysts are saying

As anticipation grows ahead of the listing, investors and analysts are divided on whether SpaceX is worth buying at its expected valuation. The WSJ quoted retail investors, financial advisors and market analysts as offering wildly different views on the IPO, highlighting both enthusiasm for Elon Musk’s rocket company and concern over its lofty valuation.Some people ‘can’t wait’ to buy shares while others are more cautious and completely dismissive, saying, ‘Avoid it like the plague.’Deen Nouri, a 41-year-old fintech entrepreneur who has spent years listening to Musk’s interviews and says Tesla stock is about 85 percent of his net worth. When SpaceX begins trading, he plans to buy. “What is there to think about?” Noori said.He described himself as a believer in the entrepreneurial vision of a future driven by artificial intelligence and space exploration. “Under the leadership of Elon Musk, you have an unlimited industry,” he said.The company is expected to reserve more than 20 percent of the IPO shares for retail investors, which is much higher than the normal allotment. Even this may not be enough. Brokerage firms expect strong demand from investors who have watched SpaceX’s rise from the sidelines while private shareholders have captured most of its profits.Wall Street is already preparing for a frenzy. The Merrill Lynch office in Houston recently held an information session for clients complete with SpaceX-branded baseball caps. Meanwhile, Robinhood expects huge demand through its IPO access program. CEO Vlad Tenev said that in the past, brokerages had to convince companies to allocate shares to retail investors.“We really had to scratch and scratch and ask for grace,” Tenev said. “Almost every major IPO of the result has been on Robinhood’s platform.”However, not everyone is convinced the enthusiasm is justified. “I think most retail investors should avoid trading like the plague,” said veteran fund analyst Dave Nadig, who expects extreme volatility once stocks begin trading. “This is one of the greatest moments I’ve had getting popcorn,” he said.

Historical data shows that nearly a quarter of IPO stocks lose at least half their value within three years of listing.Tamar June, a technology executive who remembers buying Yahoo stock on its first day of trading in 1996, is among those still hoping to secure SpaceX shares. June said, “I get it – that guy’s a little weird.” “But think about the ideas they have implemented.”Others say the enthusiasm is unlike anything seen in recent years. “This is a perfect storm for extreme retail excitement and demand,” said Mike Tracy, chief market analyst and vice president of risk at Apex Fintech Solutions. “Fasten your seat belt,” he said.Jeff Judge, a financial planner in Maryland, believes much of the demand has less to do with financial metrics than Musk’s celebrity. “Most of the interest is emotional, which is the honest truth,” the judge said.That loyalty has helped Tesla build a shareholder base dominated by retail investors, and some potential buyers see the same potential in SpaceX.Even some people who believe in Musk are being cautious about the IPO. North Carolina-based sales manager Josh Hill said he expects SpaceX to dominate the space industry in the long term. “Long-term, this is no easy task,” Hill said. But when asked if he would buy shares on the first day of trading, his answer was more measured. “The price has to go down,” Hill said. “Otherwise, I’m probably not a buyer.”Amid the mix of reactions, another thing worth noting is that the financial picture is much less straightforward. SpaceX was unprofitable last year with a loss of $4.9 billion, and its valuation has soared by more than 2,000 percent in recent years. At the IPO price, the company is valued at about 93.6 times annual sales, while the S&P 500 trades at about 3.3 times sales. Critics argue that many of the biggest gains have already accrued to private investors and that retail traders may be buying with extreme optimism.(Disclaimer: The recommendations and views given by experts on the stock market and other asset classes are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

For a retail investor, the impact depends on what they hold and why the rupee is weakening in the first place.

The rupee is falling and your investment portfolio is at risk. India may be a fundamentally strong growth story, but you may get negative returns on your investments right now. As the US-Iran conflict impacted the economy dependent on fuel imports, the currency witnessed a sharp decline, requiring continued intervention by the RBI.Is the rupee’s depreciation impacting your investment returns? What should investors do to protect their portfolio in the current scenario? The first thing to understand is that basically, a falling rupee does not have a direct impact on your investments.However, it indirectly affects the performance of your investments through its impact on the economy, growth, inflation and others. A weak rupee increases the cost of imports, which could lead to inflation and impact interest rate policy. For a retail investor, the impact depends on what they hold and why the rupee is weakening in the first place.

What impact can falling rupee have on your portfolio?

As Nirav R Karkera, head of research at W by Grow, points out, for home equities, the impact is not uniform. Export-oriented companies, IT services, pharma and other businesses with dollar revenues may get some benefits. Import-heavy sectors, dollar-cost companies, or businesses taking foreign currency loans may come under pressure. A weaker rupee could also make Indian equities less attractive for FPIs as their dollar returns diminish, and this could increase volatility at a time when global risk appetite is already weak. Carcera says the main channels for fixed income are inflation and interest rates. If rupee weakness drives imported inflation through oil, commodities or other inputs, it could limit the RBI’s scope for rate cuts and make long-term debt more vulnerable.

So what should you do?

Many lessons can be learned for portfolio allocation and diversification amid global economic turmoil. Experts and financial planners TOI spoke to had some general tips to share:continue SIPdon’t chase currency movesExperts believe that one of the biggest mistakes investors make is taking drastic portfolio decisions after the rupee falls. Instead of panic-driven reactions, stay calm, invested for the long term. don’t ignore goldAt such times, gold acts as a portfolio insulator. With a falling rupee, gold has historically acted as a hedge during currency weakness, inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. Simply put, when the rupee weakens, domestic gold prices often get an additional boost from currency movements. Experts recommend adopting the digital route – ETFs, mutual funds – instead of physical gold.Nirav R Karkera points out that gold is a more direct beneficiary in rupee terms as domestic gold prices reflect both global gold prices and exchange rates. In the current environment, gold is also being supported by global risk aversion and central bank diversification. Karkera told TOI that gold should still be treated as a portfolio hedge and not a return guarantee.But Mukesh Kumawat, director, Anand Rathi Wealth Ltd, cautions. During these uncertain times, gold has traditionally served as a safe asset, however, with speculative activity, it has turned into a volatile asset in recent times. Therefore, while gold is an important portfolio diversifier, it should not be treated as a primary wealth producer.

own some global assets like US stocksWhat the falling rupee does is that when it is converted back into rupees it automatically increases the value of foreign investments. Investors may consider allocating a portion of their equity exposure to international funds, ETFs or global stocks. For example, experts say US-focused funds can provide a natural currency hedge.Rohit Shah, financial planner, tells TOI that for most long-term investors, 15-25% in international assets is a reasonable range. The exact number should depend on goals (such as foreign education or retirement), risk profile, and overall portfolio size. “This allocation should be done gradually over time rather than making a big change after a sharp fall in the rupee. The idea is not to bet against India but to ensure that some portion of the money is in hard currencies and global businesses,” he told TOI.Nirav Karkera cautions: International exposure should be viewed first as diversification, and only then as currency hedge. International equities and dollar assets can benefit from rupee depreciation when translated back into rupees, but investors should remember that currency gains can be offset if the underlying asset performs poorly. So, the rupee is an important variable, but it should not become the sole reason for investment.

Export-Import Dynamics – Look for companies that benefit from rupee depreciationBe it IT services, pharmaceuticals or others – export-facing sectors become beneficiaries of the falling rupee. A significant portion of their revenues come from foreign markets and are earned in foreign exchange.On the other hand, experts say sectors facing pressure due to import dependence can be avoided. Higher import costs could impact profitability if companies cannot pursue growth.“A weaker rupee generally helps dollar-pegged assets. Foreign equity funds may also gain in rupee terms. On the other hand, many Indian companies face higher input costs on imports, which could hurt margins and sentiment. Over time, export-oriented businesses may gain competitiveness, while import-heavy sectors may struggle. Rupee weakness has been quite common over the decades; “The key is to plan around it and not try to predict every move,” says Rohit Shah.Mukesh Kumawat says when it comes to equities, export-oriented sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals may benefit from higher rupee earnings, while import-oriented sectors may face margin pressure due to rising input costs. Debt instruments, ETFs are in focusDebt instruments are not directly affected by rupee depreciation, however, a weaker rupee could contribute to higher inflation, pushing up interest rates and bond yields in the near term. Mukesh Kumawat says that this may create near-term instability in long-term debt funds.“On the other hand, foreign funds like international funds/ETFs can help investors benefit from the appreciation of foreign currencies and underlying asset performance against the rupee,” he says.Maintain Adequate Emergency SavingsA weak rupee could boost inflation by increasing the cost of imported goods, fuel and travel. Therefore, it would be wise to keep some emergency funds with you. Also, as experts have suggested – it is important to review your foreign exchange liabilities such as overseas education schemes, foreign currency loans and international travel commitments.

basic investing lessons

Analysts and experts are clear on one aspect: the falling rupee should not be seen as a single investment signal. Investors should consider that currency movements are often driven by temporary factors such as geopolitical events, oil price fluctuations, capital flows and global risk sentiment.

“If we look at the historical data of currency movements during geopolitical conflicts it is usually limited and temporary, in major conflicts since 1990, the average depreciation of the rupee during war periods was about 3 to 4% and in extreme cases like the Libyan civil war, the rupee weakened by about 10%, but eventually it recovered and over time, it has more impact on economic growth, inflation, capital flows, forex than just geopolitical events. “Will be driven by domestic macroeconomic fundamentals such as reserves and policy actions,” says. Mukesh Kumawat of Anand Rathi Wealth Limited.“Investors are suggested to avoid making investment decisions based on short-term trends and instead, are recommended to start building a strategy-based portfolio by diversifying 80:20 across equity and debt. And for equity exposure, investing in actively diversified equity funds helps to gain exposure across sectors, segments, and reduces the concentration risk associated with the performance of any one segment, and helps to ride out market cycles. Does,” he added.Experts urge investors to resist panic-driven investment decisions. Financial planner Rohit Shah says, “A very weak rupee will impact overseas education and travel costs the most, so more allocation to those goals may be required. Domestic equity returns may be muted or volatile for some time. It is a good idea to review asset allocation, stress-test your plan for flat or falling markets and check if you have enough “dry powder” in safe assets to weather the shock and deploy calmly when the opportunity arises.”Acknowledging that a move towards 100 would be psychologically important for the rupee, Nirav Karkera said this should not lead to panicked portfolio decisions.“The first step is to understand why the rupee is weakening. If the move is driven by a stronger dollar, oil prices, geopolitical risks or temporary FPI outflows, the portfolio reaction will be different from a situation where the weakness is driven by domestic macro tensions. “The reason matters more than just the rate,” Karkera tells TOI.For now, investors should focus on portfolio preparedness rather than forecasting. This, he added, means maintaining adequate liquidity, avoiding excessive concentration in long-term debt, maintaining some allocation to gold as a hedge and using international assets only where they fit into the long-term asset allocation.He advises, “Investors with known dollar expenses should not wait for the last minute. They should consider meeting those needs gradually through a planned and sequenced approach. Investors with only rupee liabilities should not rush into dollar assets as the currency is approaching a round number.”(Disclaimer: The recommendations and views given by experts on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India.)