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EMERGING MARKETS JUN 07, 2009
Investors grab for growth in emerging markets

After being written off as an asset class just a few short months ago, emerging-markets equities are back.

By Dan Jamieson
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION JUN 07, 2009
Woodbury to pry into the finances of reps, spouses

Independent registered representatives and their spouses soon could face unprecedented scrutiny into their personal finances.

By Bruce Kelly
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 07, 2009
529s eye low-risk options for market-shy parents

Risk-averse parents saving for their children's college education are flocking to conservative, low-risk financial products, and Section 529 college savings plans are taking action as their assets decline.

By Charles Paikert
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 05, 2009
RenaissanceRe Holdings to buy Spectrum Partners

Bermuda-based reinsurer RenaissanceRe Holdings Inc. said today that it will buy Spectrum Partners Ltd. to help it operate better in London and meet increased demand.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 05, 2009
Bill introduced to maintain state control over indexed annuities

A New York Congressman has introduced a bill that will try to preserve state authority over indexed annuities, pushing back against a recent rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By Darla Mercado
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 05, 2009
BlackRock deal for BGI near

BlackRock is likely to announce an agreement to buy Barclays Global Investors from Barclays, creating the world’s biggest institutional money manager, according to sources who declined to be named.

By Douglas Appell
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 04, 2009
Productivity increases more than expected in first quarter

U.S. workers were more productive in the first quarter than previously estimated, the government said Thursday, as rapid layoffs meant companies were forced to make do with fewer employees.

By Associated Press
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 04, 2009
Hartford chief steps down amid turmoil

Ramani Ayer, chairman and chief executive of the Hartford (Conn.) Financial Services Group Inc., said today that he will step down by the end of the year.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JUN 04, 2009
Long term care insurers probed at committee hearing

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, questioned regulators and representatives of the long term care insurance industry at a committee hearing yesterday and focused on the financial viability of LTC insurers.

By Darla Mercado
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION JUN 04, 2009
IRS to seek more regulation of tax preparers

The IRS is working on new rules that could require paid tax preparers to be licensed to improve tax compliance and reduce fraud, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman announced today.

By Bloomberg
OPINION JUN 04, 2009
It's prudent not to count on Medicare and Social Security benefits in retirement planning

Two of the primary pillars of retirement security are not just on the ropes, but actually on life support.

By Mark Bruno
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 04, 2009
Investors beware: Rally may not last, MFS strategist says

While investors are likely to see an end to the recession later this year, the current stock market rally be a harbinger of better times, according to an investment report presented by MFS Investment Management of Boston yesterday.

By Sue Asci
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Rydex Financial Services being sold to Ceros Financial

Rydex Financial Services, the brokerage arm of Rydex Investments of Rockville, Md., is being sold to Boston-based CEROS Financial Services Inc., a unit of CEROS Holding AG of Luzern, Switzerland.

By Bloomberg
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Job losses hit 579K in May

Job losses will continue to mount as the nation is expected to lose an average of 500,000 to 600,000 jobs each month for the next few months, the report said.

By Sue Asci
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
ISM: U.S. service economy shrinks more slowly in May

The U.S. service sector shrank last month at the slowest pace since late last year and orders to U.S. factory orders rose in April, but the improvements were incremental and economists say a real recovery will be long and slow.

By Bloomberg
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Group says U.S. services economy shrinks in May

A trade group says its measure of the health of the U.S. services economy shrank in May at the slowest pace since October.

By D Hampton
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Bernanke: start work now to curb budget deficit

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is urging Congress and the Obama administration to start plotting a strategy to curb record-high U.S. budget deficits. Failing to do so could eventually erode investor confidence and endanger the economy's prospects for long-term health, he said.

By Bloomberg
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Finra brought fewer enforcement actions in '08; fines against individuals fell as well

As the stock market plummeted in 2008 and chaos reigned on Wall Street, Finra regulators found less reason to levy fines and enforcement actions against broker-dealers and their registered reps, according to a study.

By Bruce Kelly
INDUSTRY NEWS JUN 03, 2009
Factory orders rise for second time in three months

Orders to U.S. factories rose 0.7 percent in April, the second increase in three months and further evidence that manufacturers may be recovering.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES JUN 02, 2009
Pending home sales spike 6.7% in April

The number of U.S. homebuyers who agreed to purchase a previously occupied home in April posted the largest monthly jump in nearly eight years, a sign that sales are finally coming to life after a long and painful slump.

By Associated Press