Investment Strategies
Get the latest market outlook, as well as news and analysis on mutual funds, ETFs and alternative investments, all designed to help you construct a well-balanced portfolio for your clients
Structured Products at Retail?
By Staff WriterOn the heels of more and more news about the implosion of the mortgage backed securities and junk bond markets come three news bits of interest: guiding principles when using structured products for retail, and word from Moody's, and Standard & Poor's, which has put "612 U.S. Subprime RMBS Classes"...
July 02, 2007
Another Charitable Venture for ClientsMicrofinance has been gaining popularity with investors as both a charitable cause and a smart alternative investment. A new fund from Citigroup Inc.--the Citi Microfinance Donor Fund--has created yet another way for philanthropists to meet up with poor entrepreneurs around the globe. In late June, Citi will launch a charitable...
July 02, 2007
Junk Bonds Under PressureFor the last few years, the supply of equities traded in the U.S. has fallen, and the number of bond issues has risen. These aren't two unrelated trends, but a natural byproduct of the buyout boom.
June 28, 2007
A Focus on Fixed IncomeMorningstar kicked off its 2007 Investment Conference June 27 in a new venue, Chicago's McCormick Place, and with a timely keynote speaker, Morningstar's 2006 Fixed...
June 28, 2007
Rydex Acquired by Security BenefitSecurity Benefit, the Topeka-based financial services holding company has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Rydex Investments, Rockville, Maryland. The combined organization is expected to have roughly $35 billion in assets under management and $52 billion of assets under administration when the deal closes later this year.
June 22, 2007
Some Utility Stocks Becoming Less Interest Rate SensitiveUntil about 10 years ago, U.S. electric and natural gas utilities have been quintessential "widow and orphan" stocks. Their profitability was highly regulated and, lacking...
June 19, 2007
New Global Dividends ETFBarclays Global Investors has launched a new ETF based on the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index of 100 non-U.S. companies that pay high dividends.
June 18, 2007
Bill Would Tax Publicly Traded Partnerships as CorporationsSenators Max Baucus (D-Montana) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced legislation June 14 that would tax as corporations all publicly traded partnerships that directly or indirectly derive income from investment adviser or asset management services.