Consumers left in the loan lurch as big banks still hold off

<i>Friday's menu:</i> Consumers still left in the loan lurch. Plus: Which manager just jumped into the liquid alts pool? Some stocks for a rising-rate cycle; commodities are hot again; European banks ride the wave; and Merrill trims its housing outlook.
APR 17, 2014
  • As the big banks rolled out earnings reports over the past week it has become increasingly obvious that consumers are still not getting clean and clear access to credit. Corporate lending is up 7%
  • Brinker Capital jumps on the liquid alts bandwagon in the latest sign of a real and fast-expanding category. Responding to requests from financial advisers
  • Some stocks like higher interest rates more than others. Life is not fair and that might be a good thing for savvy investors. Companies will benefit disproportionately
  • Commodities are once again acting as diversifiers and investors are taking notice. YTD inflows reverse 2013 outflows
  • Rumors of ECB stimulus plans are driving European bonds higher and pushing yields to new lows. This looks like Mario Draghi's no-holds-barred effort to nudge the inflation rate above 0.5%. Pledging unlimited support
  • Merrill Lynch has trimmed its 2014 housing market forecast. The main culprit? You guessed it, weather. A more muted rebound

Latest News

Ameriprise, advisor on the hook to pay Edward Jones $4.7 million in trade secrets lawsuit.
Ameriprise, advisor on the hook to pay Edward Jones $4.7 million in trade secrets lawsuit.

In a constant fight over control of clients, the financial advice industry has a long history of such allegations and disputes.

Powering retirement for Wall Street
Powering retirement for Wall Street

Retirement fintech Vestwell has hit profitability and $200 million in annual recurring revenue, powering savings programs for 750,000 employers and Wall Street’s biggest firms

Advisor moves: LPL welcomes back RayJay advisor trio in Texas
Advisor moves: LPL welcomes back RayJay advisor trio in Texas

Meanwhile, &Partners has drawn another Wells Fargo team based in Missouri, while an experienced South Carolina advisor has returned to Cetera from LPL.

FINRA fines Vanguard $950,000 over decade of cost basis errors
FINRA fines Vanguard $950,000 over decade of cost basis errors

Faulty Forms 1099 and account statements reportedly left some Vanguard brokerage customers overpaying or underpaying taxes for over a decade.

More ETFs, more opportunity, more homework
More ETFs, more opportunity, more homework

The democratization of ETFs cuts both ways

SPONSORED In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains