Portfolio

Investors continued to ferry cash out of their municipal bond mutual funds at historic rates last week as a tumultuous sell-off sowed fear among buyers.

Morningstar said investors pulled $7.6 billion from muni bond funds, the category’s worst month for outflows except for the $8 billion redeemed in October 2008 during the credit crisis peak.

ETF assets reach $887.2 billion.

Fixed-income investors are exercising patience these days, with slow-moving rates that are expected to edge up slightly in 2011.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 1.1% in November to 112.4, following a 0.4% increase in October and a 0.6% increase in September.

While the occasional active investor/mutual fund will beat the market over time, the odds are weighted powerfully against that happening.

Employers are clearly more optimistic about the economy, for another 40% that had suspended 401(k) contributions will resume them by mid 2011, doubling the 40% that already have resumed suspended or reduced matches, the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America announced Friday.

Rollovers into traditional IRAs occur evenly across all age groups and play a significant role in the growth of IRA assets, according to research by the Investment Company Institute and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, released Thursday.

Tax-exempt money market funds lost a sizable $2.09 billion, dropping total net assets to $326.88 billion for the week ending Dec. 13 and erasing nearly all gains from the previous week, according to the Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

More Americans plan to consider financial resolutions when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, a new Fidelity Investments survey says. The annual study found that 42% of Americans plan to make financial New Year’s resolutions, up from 35% last year. Results of this year’s telephone survey included 1,006 adults ages 18 and older.