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
Another Charitable Venture for Clients
By Kara P. StapletonMicrofinance 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...
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.
June 15, 2007
In a Hurry to Sell Short?The SEC has removed for good a longstanding obstacle to the short sale of stocks, eliminating the "tick" test. On the other hand, you'd better be ready to settle that short sale, as there will be no more grandfathering of positions that don't settle on time. They will be closed...
June 13, 2007
Russell to Restock Global IndexesRussell Investment Group released on June 12 those companies that will join or leave the Russell 3000 Index when that index of the broad market is reconstituted on June 22. The full list is available on Russell's Web site.
June 13, 2007
Hedge Fund Index up 6.84%Greenwich Alternative Investments released its monthly Hedge Fund Index on June 11, which showed a 2007 YTD return of 6.84%, and a monthly increase of 2.18% for May, compared to an 8.76% YTD increase for the S&P 500 (3.49% for May) and a 1.27% increase (-0.76% for May) for the...