Investing

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How to spot a doomed ETF
ETFS FEB 09, 2011
How to spot a doomed ETF

Exchange-traded funds may be all the rage, but closures of ETFs are up 500% since 2007. Here are some warning signs that a fund may be headed for that great pooled asset in the sky.

By Jessica Toonkel
ETFS FEB 09, 2011
The muni bond ETFs trading at the biggest discounts

By Mark Bruno
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 09, 2011
Pru aims to pare benefits on popular annuity

Insurer looks to roll back payout, withdrawal percentages on Highest Daily Lifetime 6 Plus product; puny interest rates to blame?

By Darla Mercado
ETFS FEB 08, 2011
More ETFs are closing as funds crowd market

With fund firms launching a seemingly endless parade of exchange-traded funds, a dark side to this glut of offerings is emerging: Portfolio liquidations, once rare, are becoming more common

By Jessica Toonkel
IndexUniverse takes on Morningstar in ETF space race
ETFS FEB 08, 2011
IndexUniverse takes on Morningstar in ETF space race

Research firm aims to barge into the ratings biz for exchange-traded funds; rival doing some revising as well

By Jessica Toonkel
ETFS FEB 08, 2011
ETF assets: $1 trillion and counting

The combined market value of U.S. exchange-traded funds surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in 2010, while ETFs investing in emerging markets and bonds receiving the most new money, Birinyi Associates Inc. said.

By Mark Bruno
U.S. dollar up as Mubarak steps down
EMERGING MARKETS FEB 07, 2011
U.S. dollar up as Mubarak steps down

Flight to safety lifts greenback against most counterparts as Egyptian president resigns

By John Goff
Big surprise: Investors piling into Egypt ETF
EMERGING MARKETS FEB 07, 2011
Big surprise: Investors piling into Egypt ETF

Flows into Van Eck could be due to some shorting, though other investors may sense potential buying opportunity; country 'too big to fail'

By Jessica Toonkel
Vanguard's fee-light emerging-markets ETF passing rivals
EMERGING MARKETS FEB 07, 2011
Vanguard's fee-light emerging-markets ETF passing rivals

Inflows into firm's low-fee fund have surged; 'pricing war going on'

By John Goff
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 07, 2011
Abandoning LTC, MetLife sparks worries

MetLife Inc.'s announcement last week that it will stop writing new long-term-care insurance shocked advisers, raising fears that rates will rise for existing blocks of business and that other carriers will exit the industry.

By Darla Mercado
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 07, 2011
Jumbo LTC rate hike for Hancock not likely, say analysts

State insurance regulators are not likely to approve John Hancock's recently announced long-term-care rate hikes, denting third-quarter profits for the insurer's parent company, Manulife Financial Corp., according to analysts.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 07, 2011
Hancock's LTC rate hike puts advisers in tough spot

Average premium for existing policyholders could go up by 40%; 'lot of explaining' to do

By Darla Mercado
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 07, 2011
LTC costs rising, but at slower clip than pre-crisis

The costs of long-term-care continue to rise, although at a slower pace than before the economic slowdown as nursing homes and home health care providers reduce charges.

By Darla Mercado
ETFS FEB 07, 2011
Advisers' favorite ETF provider is Vanguard: survey

The Vanguard Group Inc. has edged out BlackRock Inc.'s iShares as advisers' most trusted exchange-traded fund provider, according to a survey released by Cogent Research.

By Bloomberg
Life Partners' pitch change is a curveball for investors, attorneys say
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 04, 2011
Life Partners' pitch change is a curveball for investors, attorneys say

Settlement provider lowers advertised rate of return from 12% to 7%; litigation ahead?

By Darla Mercado
FIXED INCOME FEB 04, 2011
Bargains going a-begging in the muni market: Deutsche Bank

Risk of defaults on tax-free bonds overblown, says bank's head of fixed-income group

By Andrew Osterland
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 04, 2011
New York Life, MassMutual sued over Madoff investments

A machinery manufacturer last week sued New York Life Insurance Co., claiming it had lost money in variable universal life policies that were invested in funds linked to the Madoff scandal. Experts say similar suits are likely to follow.

By Darla Mercado
EQUITIES FEB 04, 2011
Consumer electronics: Now a holiday staple?

From Black Friday door-buster specials on flat-panel TVs to stocking stuffers like MP3 players and e-book readers, shopping for electronics has become as synonymous with the holiday shopping season as decorating Christmas trees

By Standard and Poor's
Schwab fee change could smack Fidelity, other fund firms
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 03, 2011
Schwab fee change could smack Fidelity, other fund firms

Brokerage plans to charge fund firms by assets on its platform -- not accounts.

By Jessica Toonkel
These two target date fund families missing the mark: Morningstar
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 03, 2011
These two target date fund families missing the mark: Morningstar

AllianceBernstein, OppenheimerFunds occupy bottom rung in latest ratings; Fidelity slips.

By Robert Steyer