JANUS LOOKS TO TWO SECTOR FUNDS: BIO AND TECH

Janus, which made its name with large-company growth funds, finally is moving for the first time into sector funds, after delaying for a year, with two funds: Global Life Sciences and Global Technology. Thomas Malley, an analyst at the Denver company since 1991, will manage Life Sciences and Mike Lu, also an analyst, will run Technology.

The company also has launched Virtual Janus, a redesigned World Wide Website accessible at www.janus.com. Enhancements include secure on-line transactions, personalized portfolio overviews, account histories, market and manager commentaries, up-to-date performance information and Morningstar rankings.

Annuity applications can go in online

Integrity Life Insurance Co. in Louisville, Ky., has developed a program that allows its financial representatives to submit applications for annuity business over the Internet.

Market-quote site adds Japanese version

Quote.com Inc. in Mountain View, Calif., has released the Japanese version of its Fast Quote site. The site provides charts and stock market quotes for the North American exchanges. A link to the Japanese version is provided at freequote.com.Japanese users have access to features such as company and market snapshots, mutual fund reports from Lipper Analytics, and the My Portfolio feature.

Site has directory of online resources

InvestorMap.com provides a directory of investing and trading resources on the Internet. Visitors to www.investormap.com can sign up for a free e-mail newsletter that covers the investing and trading sector. InvestorMap.com also features a daily markets page that provides direct links to free sources of quotes, charts, breaking news and commentary and earnings data.

Zurich Kemper data available 24 hours

Zurich Kemper Life in Long Grove, Ill., has launched an interactive voice response system. The new system provides customers with 24-hour-a-day access to their policy information. Customers can check on policy status, or make transfers and asset allocation changes. Customer service representatives can be accessed through the 800 number during regular business hours.

As each call is answered, service representatives are presented with information about the customer, including products owned and past inquiries.

The company also has added two features to its Internet offerings. Browser Only allows agents to review information on Zurich Kemper Life’s Star Link system without having to download software or run updates. Promo Pop-Up lets general agencies place a brief message about a Zurich Kemper product or service on their websites.

Fixed annuity offers interest rate option

Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (U.S.) in Boston has introduced the futurity fixed annuity. It allows investors to choose from guaranteed interest rates or a five-year floating rate option, under which the contract interest rate resets every 90 days, based on the London interbank offered rate minus a contractual spread for administrative costs.

Clients can move out of the floating rate option and into the guaranteed interest rate period at any time, but the contract may be subject to a market value adjustment.

Holders of the futurity fixed annuity can withdraw up to 10% of their account value each year, without incurring a surrender charge or a market-value adjustment.

1st American launches ISG fund group of 14

First American Corp. in Nashville, Tenn., has launched ISG funds, an expanded mutual fund group formed from the combination of its Ameristar mutual funds and DG Investor Series. The 14 ISG offerings include equity, taxable fixed income, tax exempt fixed income and money market funds.

Projection software for businesses

Invest-Tech Ltd. in Dublin, Ireland, has released Exl-Plan Pro, a Microsoft Excel-based financial planning program for midsize and larger businesses. Exl-Plan generates five-year projections on a monthly basis for the first year and quarterly thereafter.

Exl-Plan runs with releases 5, 7, 8, 95 and 97 of Excel for Windows and is available with U.S. or European accounting formats. A trial version can be downloaded from www.planware.org.

Providers can tailor 401(k) account info

CDA/Wiesenberger in Rockville, Md., has added DirectAds, a new feature for its Internet defined contribution and retirement planning software. It enables financial services companies to customize account information for each plan participant as well as to cross-sell investment products.

The company also has released an Internet version of Architec(k), software that integrates education, planning, fund analysis and account access. Architec(k) will enable plan sponsors and participants to automatically access updated information over the Internet.

Online news adds insider trading data

Individual Investor Group Inc. in New York has redesigned its website after acquiring InsiderTrader .com, an online distributor of trading data and independent financial research.

Individual Investor Online’s site, located at www.iionline.com, offers message boards, personal portfolio management, and daily opening bell and closing bell columns that provide information on the upcoming trading day and a recap of the day’s activity.

Social, union funds join AmEx alliance

American Express Retirement Services, a division of American Express Financial Advisors Inc. in Minneapolis, has added two mutual funds to its SmartPartners investment alliance.

The Domini Social Equity Fund managed by Domini Social Investments in Boston, seeks to invest in companies that demonstrate positive relations with their community and employees in the United States and abroad.

The MFS Union Standard Equity Fund, managed by MFS Investment Management, also in Boston, invests in the stocks of labor-sensitive companies.

Schwab upgrades OneSource site

Charles Schwab Corp. in San Francisco has restyled its Mutual Fund OneSource website (www.schwab.com).

New features include mutual fund screening, fund details and investment topics, and a section containing educational material and research studies conducted by the Schwab Center for Investment Research.

Website targets the day trader

The Daytrader’s Bulletin, a new website at www.daytrader’sbulletin.com, provides trading information, tips and advice. Sections include: analysis, the bulletin method — a technique for trading S&P 500 stocks — a S&P 500 Corner, Trading Business, Mind & Money and Daytrading Strategies.

Search engine for 10-K filings

10-K Wizard Technology LP in Dallas has launched www. tenkwizard.com, a free search engine on the internet for all filings by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The site allows visitors to search all filings by words and phrases. It also features NewsHarvester technology that provides simultaneous access to updated headlines from multiple sites.

Hedge fund data coming on Internet

HedgeWorld Limited in New York plans to launch www.hedgeworld.com in the first quarter of this year.

The website is to feature broadcast and real-time customized data capabilities for investors, managers and service providers, who can establish the amount and type of information about alternative investments they wish to send or receive.