Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
ECB Offers Cheap Loans Again
By Marlene Y. SatterThe European Central Bank once again offered cheap three-year loans to banks in the euro region, which quickly soaked up 529.5 billion euros ($712.2 billion) in funding. Analysts had expected the amount to total 470 billion euros.
February 28, 2012
Financial Services Industry ‘Safer, Sounder’: Hamilton Financial IndexHamilton Place Strategies released on Tuesday its new Hamilton Financial Index, which shows that great progress has been made in strengthening the financial services sector since the financial crisis in 2008.
February 28, 2012
Deutsche Bank Survey Predicts Record Hedge Fund Assets in 2012Hedge fund assets will reach an all-time high this year, driven by increased institutional participation, according to Deutsche Banks 10th annual Alternative Investment Survey, released last week.
February 28, 2012
Merkel Wins Greek Rescue ApprovalOne of Merkels own Cabinet ministers, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, had earlier called for an expulsion of Greece from the eurozone rather than allowing it to remain and have Germany be compelled to provide further assistance.
February 28, 2012
ECB Rejects Greek Debt as CollateralChristian Schulz, an economist at Berenberg Bank in London, was quoted saying, After the downgrade it was clear this was going to happen. The ECB isnt going to make an exception to its rule on not accepting defaulted collateral ...
February 28, 2012
PIMCO’s Gross Makes Big Break With Past StrategyPIMCOs Total Return strategy of emphasizing income and capital gains, the strategy that made Bill Gross rich and famous, no longer works, according to the bond kings March commentary.
February 27, 2012
Municipal Bond Yields Low, RisingTax-exempt investment-grade municipal bonds as measured by the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index have returned 2.41% so far this year, according to S&P Indices Vice President of Fixed Income Indices J.R. Rieger.
February 27, 2012
Who’ll Win Election in 2012? Look to Stock MarketForget tracking polls, focus groups and kissing babies. The most accurate predictor of election year winners might be the stock market.