Portfolio

Global X Funds is liquidating eight of its exchange-traded funds, including a fund focused on emerging markets and another on waste management.

Investment management firm Matthews it will re-open two of its funds to new investors. The Matthews Asian Growth and Income and the Matthews Asia Small Companies funds will both reopen on Jan. 4, 2012.

Dalbar has announced its 2011 Mutual Fund Service Award Winners in Financial Services—with top honors for customer service going to:

Versus Capital will launch a retail mutual fund-of-funds that invests directly in income-producing real estate—a type of investment typically only available to institutional investors. Callan Associates will serve as sub-advisor.

Global X Funds is liquidating eight of its exchange-traded funds, including a fund focused on emerging markets and another on waste management. All of the funds trade on NYSE Arca. The eight closings, scheduled for Feb. 27, with the last day of trading on Feb. 16, are:

Americans’ financial outlook is ending 2011 with a continued rise in confidence, the Country Financial Security Index shows. The index rose 1.6 points in December, to end the year at 64.8.

A jury for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in favor of an SEC lawsuit against a former Prudential Securities registered rep for market timing mutual funds between 2001 and 2003.

The time for watching and waiting is over. Twitter is a culture phenomenon and more and more financial advisors are setting up Twitter profiles and testing the waters to connect with existing clients, promote their services to potential new clients and share industry news and insight with their peers. Whether you are new to Twitter or seasoned vet, here are 10 tips provided by TJ Gilsenan, Web-Savvy Advisor, to help financial advisors get the most out of the platform:

Bank stocks were pounded again Monday on concerns that Basel III capital requirements would provide another blow to the beleaguered industry. Investors also dumped shares after European Central Bank head Mario Draghi gave a speech in which he offered little in the way of support to solve the region’s sovereign debt crisis.

Invesco has launched the Invesco Premium Income Fund, aimed at investors looking for current income streams. The strategy is designed “to provide protection during periods of economic stress” while still meeting income goals, the firm said.