Alternatives

Displaying 4065 results
EQUITIES JUL 17, 2014
Barclays in the hot seat over charges it courted high-frequency traders

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Barclays tagged for HFT. Plus: A looming 401(k) crisis, the marriage math for gay couples, the fuzzy math of inflation data, tapping into the fracking boom, and Russian stocks are not for the meek.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 16, 2014
Nontraded REITS headed for another boffo year

Sales expected to hit $20 billion as low interest rates and liquidity events spark industry.

By Bruce Kelly
EQUITIES JUL 16, 2014
Frothy markets have investors turning to short-term bets

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Going short-term with investments. Plus: Watching the Fed chase the markets, punishing corporate taxes force more companies overseas, the Dow inches toward another milestone, the pros and cons of 401(k) loans, and you too can be a bond trader.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 15, 2014
Finra's proposed nontraded REIT rule changes could have gone further

Checks on sponsor companies and protection for investors and advisers is welcome, but statement reporting adds more confusion than clarity

By Frederick Baerenz
EQUITIES JUL 14, 2014
Markets brace for the Fed's big talk about normalization

Plus: Individual investors zig as professionals zag, hedging the U.S. market by going global, Citigroup in the spotlight, and futbol mania

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 14, 2014
Energy boom blasting out master limited partnership opportunities

Tax restrictions on mutual funds need a close eye to avoid a whack from Uncle Sam.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 14, 2014
How investors lose 89% of gains from futures funds

An in-depth look at managed futures, which can be a confusing asset class for investors and advisers alike.

By Andrew Leigh
RIA NEWS JUL 11, 2014
Stocks have biggest May in years but where's the excitement?

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin: Why there's no excitement for this stock rally. </i>Plus: Fee-only RIAs in the catbird seat but they can't relax; the active ETF world heating up; what QE has wrought; on Phil Mickelson and insider trading; and Apple's big day.

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 10, 2014
Carl Icahn advises caution in the equity markets

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Carl Icahn warns that stocks are on risky ground. Plus: Interest rates and volatility are raising red flags, one man's take on the Fed-fueled bubble, the SEC is watching for political-donation conflicts, gold gets no respect, and institutional money is chasing solar energy stocks.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 10, 2014
How to find the best nontraditional bond fund

In this Take Five interview, Raman Srivastava, manager of the Dreyfus Opportunistic Fixed Income Fund talks about what advisers should look for in an unconstrained, or go-anywhere, bond fund.

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 09, 2014
Volatility looks cheap and risky

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Barclays: Following in the footsteps of Sallie Krawcheck. Plus: The volatility play: Cheap but risky, bond managers brace for higher rates, dancing around the issue of student loan debt, and a potato salad venture whets the tax man's appetite.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES JUL 09, 2014
RCS Capital closes J.P. Turner, Summit Financial deals

Nicholas Schorsch's network of independent broker-dealers is closing in on nearly 9,000 reps.

By Bruce Kelly
EQUITIES JUL 08, 2014
The financial fallout from Germany's World Cup rout of Brazil

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Germany's World Cup rout goes beyond soccer. Plus: The SEC takes another stab at curbing high-speed trading, investment lessons from a crumbling cupcake chain, and dividend stocks are looking better than ever.

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 08, 2014
Investors bracing for a wild second half of 2014

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Buckling up for a rocky second half. Plus: Companies tweak bylaws to tamp down shareholder lawsuits, Morningstar settles software piracy case, JPMorgan embraces smart-beta investing, and buying beer stocks when it's hot outside.

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 08, 2014
Advisers worry about high-speed trading backlash from clients after Michael Lewis contention that markets are 'rigged'

&#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; segment, new book fuel concern that jittery investors will become even more skeptical.

By Liz Skinner
ALTERNATIVES JUL 07, 2014
No inflation in energy prices – yet

While there is no inflation in energy prices just yet, consumers could cope with higher energy prices as long as they occur over time and don't hit in the form of a shock. But the tipping point is not too far away.

By Paul Schatz
ALTERNATIVES JUL 07, 2014
The alternative strategies that outperform with mutual funds

In some cases, hedge funds are no investment panacea.

By Dan Thibeault
EQUITIES JUL 03, 2014
Barclays looks like the latest bank to back away from commodities trading

<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Barclays backing away from commodities. Plus: Goldman hangs tough in the commodity-trading arena, getting esoteric with income investing, riding on an M&amp;A high, and IRS bonuses whether you've paid your taxes or not

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 01, 2014
The grim reality of inflation without wage growth

On Friday's menu: Inflation without wage growth: Cause for concern? Plus: The Fed has painted itself into a corner, consumer stocks are likely to take a hit, bracing for Treasury yield volatility, silver outshines gold in June, and how to live to be 100.

By Jeff Benjamin
EQUITIES JUL 01, 2014
The Fed views inflation through rose-colored glasses

On Wednesday's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu: The Fed dons rose-colored glasses. Plus: Junk bond yields get scary low, commodity hedge funds fall out of favor, what you need to know about stock buyback ETFs, and the inequality mob is driving the rich to hoard cash

By Jeff Benjamin