Industry News

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NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 02, 2008
New annuity-wrapped managed account sparks interest, confusion

The first income guarantee wrap-per around a managed-account portfolio hasn't even been sold yet, but its mere existence has sparked growing interest in retirement income products within the managed-accounts industry.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 02, 2008
MassMutual to buy First Mercantile

MassMutual announced that it had completed its purchase of First Mercantile Trust Co. from SunTrust Banks Inc. of Atlanta.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 02, 2008
Fidelity's new emerging-markets fund breaks new ground

Fidelity Investments' recent launch of an emerging-markets fund may signal the next frontier, but emerging markets' reputation for risk will likely lead investors to keep exposure to a minimum.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 02, 2008
Structured market leery of open systems

Open architecture has been slow to come to the structured products market.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 02, 2008
Fixed-annuity sales up 35%

Estimated sales of fixed annuities were $18.1 billion in the first quarter, a 35% increase from the level a year earlier.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 02, 2008
Retirement income products just can't get adviser love

Like Goldilocks, financial advisers can't seem to find many new retirement income products that are "just right."

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 02, 2008
Brokers face insurance kickback investigation

A group of single-premium annuity pension plan brokers who allegedly took kickbacks from insurance carriers is under investigation by the state of Connecticut and may face steep penalties, according to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 02, 2008
Minority financial literacy program going national

The Wall Street Wizards, the financial literacy program founded four years ago for minority students in the San Francisco Bay Area, is gearing up to go national.

By Charles Paikert
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 30, 2008
Economic indicators still slowing

Two key economic indicators, consumer spending and personal income growth, both slowed in April.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 29, 2008
Economy growth revised higher

The U.S. gross domestic product estimate for the first quarter was revised up to 0.9%, from a predicted 0.6%.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 29, 2008
Hartford rejiggers life insurance operations

The Hartford Financial Services has divided its life insurance operations into four market groups.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 29, 2008
Symetra Life offers income annuity

This deferred payout annuity allows clients to buy a stream of guaranteed income for a minimum of $10,000.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 29, 2008
Program allows kids to get fiscal

William Thomason's world is mysterious — at least to the black and Hispanic high school students entering the financier's Wall Street Wizards Urban Financial Literacy Program.

By Charles Paikert
NEWS BROKER DEALERS MAY 29, 2008
LPL poised for acquisitions

LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent-contractor broker-dealer, is on the lookout for plum acquisition candidates, although a top executive says growth through current advisers is the company's prime goal.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2008
Mortgage and refinance applications fall

Mortgage applications dipped 4.6% for the week ended May 23 due to a drop in refinancing activity.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2008
Durable goods orders off slightly

New orders for durable goods fell by a lower-than-expected 0.5% last month, according the Department of Commerce.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 27, 2008
Analyst cuts 2Q projections for big firms

A Bank of America analyst has slashed earnings estimates for Lehman Bros., Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 27, 2008
Consumer confidence drops to 16-year low

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell to a reading of 57.2, down from 62.8 in April.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 27, 2008
Home prices still heading south

House prices continued to plunge in the first quarter, with new data revealing record declines across the country.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 26, 2008
Volatile markets teach lessons about investing

Whether they like it or not, advisers have become well-versed in financial manias, panics and bubbles.

By Bloomberg