Upgrades

Vanguard reopened the Strategic Equity Fund and increased its minimum initial investment to $10,000. The firm also lifted the $25,000 annual investment limits on Vanguard Windsor II and Wellington Funds. Furthermore, the Vanguard 529 Plan will reduce expenses across its entire lineup of investment options by 10 to 12 basis points. The results equal a savings of more than $2 million annually for plan participants, marking the third time in two years that Vanguard has reduced the plan’s expenses.

…Two new families of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trading on the American Stock Exchange have been launched. Rydex introduced nine ETFs based on the S&P Equal Weight Sector Indexes, providing investors with exposure to the consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, basic materials, technology, and utilities sectors. State Street Global Advisors launched a new series of international ETFs, including two Japan-focused funds based upon indexes created by the Russell Investment Group and Nomura Securities.