Portfolio

While ETFs open the door to the entire foreign stock universe, they can also substantially alter sector weightings.

While many Americans are comfortable investing in foreign multinational companies whose brands are household names in the U.S., the prospect of owning smaller overseas equities can be intimidating.

Two former chairs of the Senate Budget Committee – one Republican, one Democrat – said the nation can come up with a debt deal and that would lead to explosive growth in the nation’s economy. And possibly the world’s.

Chairman Mary Jo White told the general membership meeting of the ICI that the SEC will “propose meaningful money market reform.’’ And that developing its next round of reform measures will be made with international regulation in mind.

Columbia plans to offer the Columbia International Value Fund, which will invest at least 80% of its total asset in equity securities of foreign companies that have market capitalizations of more than $1 billion at the time of purchase, according to the registration filing.

American Century is rebranding its target-date funds, dropping the LIVESTRONG name, which is associated with Lance Armstrong, and branding the funds as One Choice Portfolios.

meaningful money market reform.’’ And that developing its next round of reform measures will be made with international regulation in mind.

Globally, exchange traded products are scooping up assets on a faster pace than in 2012, according to BlackRock’s April 2013 ETP Landscape Report.

Independent broker-dealers and RIAs have the edge over wirehouses when it comes to adding mutual fund assets under management, according to Access Data and Strategic Insight.

SEC chairman Mary Jo White made no comment Friday on what new reforms for the money market fund industry will come out of her administration, except that its proposal will be “appropriate and balanced.”