Investing

Displaying 16277 results
ALTERNATIVES MAY 27, 2009
1Q home prices fall by 19.1% to 2002 levels

U.S. home prices are at levels not seen since the end of 2002, but a closer look at data released Tuesday shows the worst may be over for some metropolitan areas.

By Bloomberg
EMERGING MARKETS MAY 26, 2009
World markets shaken by North Korea nuclear tests

European indexes followed Asian markets lower, with trading gaining momentum as Britain and the U.S. come back from a long weekend.

By Associated Press
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 26, 2009
Progressive settles in Massachusetts over rate quotes

Progressive Insurance is paying the state $120,000 and will reimburse customers after volunteering that its Web site had provided inaccurate rate comparisons.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES MAY 26, 2009
Swiss hedge fund reaches $235M settlement with Madoff trustee

Optimal Investment Services, the Geneva-based hedge fund arm of Banco Santander SA, has reached a settlement with Irving Picard, trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, for $235 million.

By Sue Asci
FIXED INCOME MAY 26, 2009
Fortune 500 pension plans shift $1B to bonds

Many pension managers are allotting more assets to long-term investment-grade corporate bonds, reported Standish Mellon Asset Management Co. LLC of Boston today.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES MAY 26, 2009
Hedge fund agrees to return Madoff withdrawals

The pool of money available to compensate victims of Bernard Madoff's massive pyramid scam is getting bigger.

By Bloomberg
EMERGING MARKETS MAY 26, 2009
Russia expects 8% drop in GDP this year

The International Monetary Fund has said Russia's GDP could drop as much as 6% this year — the most pessimistic outlook so far.

By Associated Press
MUTUAL FUNDS MAY 24, 2009
Looking inside target date funds

Financial advisers who handle retirement plans have noted that plan sponsors are now very much aware of the performance of target date funds. But sponsors don't really understand the reason for the performance, according to 76% of advisers polled by my firm.

By David L. Musto
EQUITIES MAY 24, 2009
What if stocks are not for the long run?

Lubos Pastor may upend the world of equity investing. In his recent academic paper “Are stocks really less volatile in the long run?” the professor at the college's Booth School of Business argues that stocks are riskier than generally perceived.

By Evan Cooper
MUTUAL FUNDS MAY 24, 2009
It's time to institute 'limited-purpose banking'

The Obama administration's strategy to ad-dress the economic crisis may be making the problem worse.

By Laurence J. Kotiokoff and John C. Goodman
EQUITIES MAY 24, 2009
Painful ride for equities last year

Fidelity Investments had the most internally managed active-domestic-equity assets for U.S. institutional tax-exempt assets clients last year.

By Doug Halonen
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 24, 2009
Death watch gone awry

The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled against a group of investors who tried to muscle a state guaranty association into paying about $1 million for the group's failed viatical investments.

By Darla Mercado
RIA NEWS MAY 24, 2009
Insurance industry needs federal oversight

Congress is likely to begin a review of the financial oversight system next month, with an eye toward revamping regulation. Banking, of course, will take center stage, especially now that the federal government has a direct stake in many of the nation's largest banks.

By MFXFeeder
FINTECH MAY 24, 2009
Tech funds' performance breeds confidence in market

Mutual funds that invest in technology stocks are producing great returns — a sign that the market in general is improving, some say — and investors are starting to respond.

By David Hoffman
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 24, 2009
Advisers cautious on insurers OK''d for TARP money

Although carriers' acceptance into the TARP program has led to share price gains and cautious approval from ratings agencies, some financial advisers are still keeping the insurers' products and securities at arm's length.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 24, 2009
With clock ticking, some urge clients to establish GRATs

Wealth managers and tax attorneys are advising wealthy clients who may need to minimize gift and estate tax payments to consider taking advantage of a popular tax-planning tool while they still can.

By Charles Paikert
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 24, 2009
Though barred, rogue brokers often find work

Keeping track of rogue brokers is a tricky business, particularly when they leave or are booted from the confines of the securities industry, but keep peddling financial products.

By Bruce Kelly
FIXED INCOME MAY 24, 2009
Beware 'bond bear trap,' experts warn the unwary

Financial advisers are at risk of getting caught in a classic “bond bear trap” — reaching for yield in a low-interest-rate environment, then getting hammered when rates ultimately rise.

By Dan Jamieson
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 22, 2009
Bill to establish Office of Insurance Information reintroduced

Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Pa., today reintroduced the Insurance Information Act of 2009, which would establish a federal Office of Insurance Information.

By Darla Mercado
MUTUAL FUNDS MAY 22, 2009
Muni bond funds enjoy newfound popularity

In what advisers say is a flight to safety and returns, municipal bond funds attracted more than $20 billion in new cash from January through May 13, according to the Washington-based Investment Company Institute.

By Sue Asci