A hefty charge ING Groep NV will take on its American variable annuity business appears to be a mixed blessing for investors hoping to snap up shares of the company's insurance unit once it makes its public debut.
Europe will muddle through its financial crisis but is unlikely to craft an enduring solution to calm volatile investment markets.
Bearish stock-picker Jeremy Grantham believes corporate margins are freakishly high. The legendary bubble-spotter believes those margins will soon revert to the mean. Meaning? 'A lot of profit disappointment is coming our way.'
MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, kept the top spot in variable annuity sales in the third quarter by cutting rates to attract customers looking for a consistent return amid equity market declines.
Volatile equity markets and record low interest rates have led major variable annuity issuers to rein in sales, but a few insurers are drumming up business with products that reflect the “new normal”
Call it the LinkedIn Effect. Technology companies are generating big profits, but investors continue to shy away from tech stocks. In fact, the P/e ratio for the sector is at its lowest level since 1998.
Fed's low-interest-rate policy making tax-exempt debt very attractive, say portfolio managers; 'renewed confidence'
States, cities face rate cuts as financial pressures mount, credit rater warns; defaults, while rare, could increase
Timing is everything, and the high-profile analyst blew hers with that celebrated muni meltdown prediction for 2011; she still may end up being right, though
Dire prediction by high-profile analyst fails to pan out; tax-exempt debt sees 10.5% gain this year
Structured certificates of deposit offers exposure to market upside -- and downside; FDIC insured
Albert Pujols may have made a smart decision signing with the L.A. Angels instead of the Florida Marlins or sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals. His tax attorney may have a different view on the subject, however.
This was supposed to be the year the muni market went to hell in a handbasket. But with yields now matching -- and even surpassing comparable Treasuries -- tax-exempt bonds are suddenly very hot. | <a href=http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CI&Date=20111208&Category=FREE&ArtNo=120809999&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=PH>The ten muni funds investors flocked to in 2011 &raquo;</a>
Even with reforms, advisers could sally forth with new schemes
Unsecured debt for company maintenance facility now trading at 16 cents on the dollar
Every time the debate over the fiduciary standard of client care hits the news, RIAs pick up a few more clients.
The Obama administration, Congress and the SEC need to continue to press forward with their efforts to ensure that brokers are required to act in their clients' undivided best interests at all times
The lack of empirical evidence showing that brokers lead investors into bad investments because they want the commissions from those products is making it a challenge for supporters of a uniform fiduciary duty to convince lawmakers that there is a problem
