Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
Pension Risk Transfer Attractiveness Unchanged, Despite Higher Pension Funding Levels
By Warren S. HerschA key benchmark that gauges the relative attractiveness of annuitizing pension liabilities has remained nearly unchanged since January, according a press statement from Dietrich & Associates.
February 15, 2012
ECB Plans to Surrender Greek Bond ProfitsECB officials Joerg Asmussen and Luc Coene support the idea, and discussions are under way to determine how to book such profits up front so that they can be provided to Greece as an early lump sum.
February 15, 2012
5 Best & Worst Broker-Dealers: Q4 EarningsBrokerage firms in the fourth quarter boosted earnings growth as high as 191% and reported declines as low as 131%AdvisorOne selected 10 to spotlight.
February 14, 2012
Spain in EU Crosshairs Over Austerity DelayEven as it has lost patience with Greece over what it sees as inadequate and halfhearted attempts to implement austerity, the EC has a bone to pick with the new Spanish government, which it will likely sanction over a number of issues.
February 14, 2012
Are Central Banks Saving Economy or Destroying It? News AnalysisThe question is whether the central banks combined $15 trillion bet will restore confidence in time for the economy to grow again, or whether the global economic system collapses, sending waves of pain on a scale greatly exceeding the fallout of the still unrecovered U.S. real estate market.
February 14, 2012
Moody’s Cuts Six Euro CountriesItaly was cut from A2 to A3, Spain went from A1 to A3 and Portugal dropped from Ba2 to Ba3. All received negative outlooks. Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia also saw their ratings fall.
February 14, 2012
Gold ETF Debuts in Hong KongThe first yuan-denominated gold ETF has made a lackluster debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange, but if analysts are correct it is just the beginning for the new vehicle.
February 14, 2012
Stand-Alone Living Benefits: Guaranteeing Lifetime Income Without an AnnuityIf your client wants guaranteed income in retirement, SALB may be the answer. But there are some limitations.