Portfolio

U.S. equity funds took a beating the week ended Wednesday, February 1, losing an estimated $1.8 billion in investor flows, according to statistics released today by the Investment Company Institute.

The seven hedge fund benchmark indexes operated by alternative investment manager IndexIQ on average rose more than 3% in January, according to January 2012 performance data released by the firm.

The newly created firm’s target net-worth range is broad enough to allow Angeles Wealth Management to allocate clients’ money in a wide range of asset classes.

Independent broker-dealer and RIA Lincoln Investment Planning has agreed to buy broker-dealer and RIA Capital Analysts from Western & Southern Financial Group, the firms announced. The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

J.P. Morgan had a product up its sleeve for its broker-dealers on Aug. 4. That was the date it put the servicing of more than one million accounts onto a new broker-dealer platform, known as Morgan Communications or MORCOM. The online system was to serve both retail and institutional brokers.

NYSE Euronext said trading activity on its derivatives and stock exchanges fell more than 17 percent in January, compared to a year ago. But volume was up from December.

The seven hedge fund benchmark indexes operated by alternative investment manager IndexIQ on average rose more than 3% in January, according to January 2012 performance data released by the firm.

Fidelity Investments has warned regulators that more than half of its money-fund clients would move some or all of their assets out of the investments if the net asset value of the funds were allowed to fluctuate.

With a projected valuation of as much as $100 billion, Facebook’s imminent IPO may portend great things for social media. But many planners feel less bullish about its prospects for delivering investment returns.

With a projected valuation of as much as $100 billion, Facebook’s imminent IPO may portend great things for social media. But many planners feel less bullish about its prospects for delivering investment returns.