Several third-party technology providers have banded together and this week launched a new forum to help educate and assist newly independent advisers in their selection of software, hardware and other technology components to complete their back offices.
Retail sales fell for the fifth consecutive month — 1.8% in November — according to the Department of Commerce.
The economic crisis has reduced prices of U.S. imported and exported goods and services at the fastest pace since 1988, when records were first kept, according to a Department of Labor report.
The number of first-time jobless claims was 573,000 for the week ending Dec. 6, a 58,000 increase from the previous week.
Confidence among Americans regarding their future personal financial conditions and the jobs market continue to decline, dropping the index near to its all-time low of this past July.
The SEC finalized settlements today with Citigroup and UBS that will provide nearly $30 billion to tens of thousands of customers who invested in auction rate securities before the market for these investment products dried up in February.
Excise taxes imposed on retirement savings account holders who do not take minimum distributions by age 70½ would be suspended for 2009 under legislation unanimously approved last night by the House of Representatives.
A lower appetite for risk among investors has added up to some lousy returns for hedge funds concentrated in emerging markets, according to the latest data from HFR Group LLC in Chicago.
The Reserve Management Co. Inc. of New York has announced that it has begun distributions for 12 of its money market mutual funds and gave a distribution schedule for a host of others.
