Practice

Investigation might redefine insider trading.

In an era of low interest rates, weak loan demand and unprecedented efforts by the Federal Reserve Board to pump liquidity into the economy, the demand for Federal Home Loan Bank advances has plummeted to a 10-year low, raising questions about the system's future as the government weighs a redesign of the housing finance sector.

The Build America Bond program is likely to be extended for one year at something less than its current 35% federal interest cost subsidy level, due to the dynamics shaping up around the tax-cut extension Congress will consider when it returns after Thanksgiving.

Janus said Tuesday it has been subpoenaed in the federal investigation into insider trading by “executive networks,” hedge funds and mutual funds. A day earlier, the FBI raided the offices of three hedge funds in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

With the U.S. Department of Labor poised to toughen rules for consultants and advisers to retirement plans, industry practices are under a new spotlight. Some like SEI may exit the business all together.

They expect their own stock holdings to rise over the next six months.

Think tank comprised of 14 executives will meet quarterly to discuss challenges and best practices.

The stable value account guarantees principal and accrued interest.

Frank Keating pledged Tuesday to take a bipartisan approach as the next head of the American Bankers Association, dismissed concerns about a past scandal from his former career as Oklahoma governor as "unfair" and touted his experience with issues relevant to mortgage securitization and the Bank Secrecy Act.

A pullback in reserves helped drive another solid profit for banks and thrifts last quarter, but the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s assessment of the industry's health Tuesday was tempered by mortgage fallout concerns.