New products and changes introduced over the last week include three funds from Hancock Holding Company; the closing of the Health Sciences Fund to new investors by T. Rowe Price; two funds from Russell Investments; a smart beta index series from FTSE Russell and Research Affiliates; and an index series from FTSE Group and NAREIT.
Also, RiskX and American Independence have made both firms' funds available on both platforms in advance of merger completion; MetLife added a universal life product; Lincoln Financial added a fixed indexed annuity; Putnam Investments and Nissay Asset Management announced an extension of their strategic alliance; and RiXtrema rolled out its portfolio crash test solution.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Hancock Holding Adds Three Funds
Hancock Holding Company has announced the addition of three funds: the Hancock Horizon Microcap Fund (HMIAX); the Hancock Horizon International Small Cap Fund (HISAX); and the Hancock Horizon Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund (HDAAX).
HMIAX focuses on companies ranging from $25 million to $750 million. Consisting of approximately 60-70 equally weighted companies, the fund strives to have an average market cap of $500 million. It will be managed by Anthony Slovick and Steve Solomon.
HISAX looks for opportunities in the global small-cap marketplace and will invest in non-U.S. companies with market caps between $75 million and $5 billion. It is subadvised by GlobeFlex's Robert Anslow and James Peterson.
HDAAX casts a broad net of about 20 liquid asset classes, from the S&P 500 to real estate investment trusts to international stocks, with a focus on managing both volatility and risk. Austin Zaunbrecher is the fund manager.
2) T. Rowe Price Closes Health Sciences Fund to New Investors
T. Rowe Price has announced that it has closed its Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX) and similar portfolios for institutional clients to new investors.
While the fund is closed to new investors, it will continue to accept additional investments from existing shareholders and from participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan for which the fund serves as an investment option. New IRAs may also be opened through a direct rollover from an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
3) Russell Investments Adds Two Funds
Russell Investments has introduced the Russell Tax-Managed International Equity Fund (RTNAX) and the Russell Tax Exempt High Yield Bond Fund (RTHAX).
RTNAX seeks to deliver long-term capital growth on an after-tax basis, and invests principally in depositary receipts and equity securities issued by companies economically tied to non-U.S. countries in both developed and emerging markets. Jon Eggins is the portfolio manager.
RTHAX is designed to create an opportunity for higher tax-exempt income by investing 30–60% of its assets in municipal bonds that are below investment grade. Kevin Lo is the portfolio manager.
4) FTSE Russell and Research Affiliates Add Smart Beta Index Series
FTSE Russell and Research Affiliates LLC have announced the launch of the FTSE RAFI Equity Income Index Series.
The series will track high dividend-paying stocks that are screened to target sustainable income. The indexes are weighted according to fundamental measures, rather than to market capitalization.
