Portfolio

The International Organization of Securities Commissions, of which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.K. Financial Services Authority are members, starting in September will ask hedge funds to provide high-level, bi-annual snapshots of: their stock and bond holdings, geographic and underlying currency exposure, leverage levels, sales and redemptions, investor classifications, primary marketing channels, recent performance, and operations and technology details, including turnover, clearing mechanisms and risk measures.

AXA Equitable uncovered a dismal outlook for the economy and retirement in “Retirement in America: A Survey of Concerns and Expectations,” in which it polled both investors and economists and found a large percentage of both groups bearish on the economy and the markets.

Long-term mutual funds had positive sales for the 49th straight week, taking in $5.68 billion in the week ended Feb. 17, according to the Investment Company Institute. This brings sales over the last 11 months to a total of $476 billion.

An average 24% increase in advisory, distribution and service fees fueled a 87% surge in Eaton Vance’s first quarter profits to $46.2 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with profit of $24.7 million, or 21 cents per share in the year-ago quarter ended Jan. 31.

A MassMutual survey of 1,000 of its retirement plan participants found that 75.8% believe the stock market will improve over the next 12 months. Only 7.6% think it will decline.

More than 800 exchange-traded funds trade daily in the United States. How can advisors choose? Two experts reveal what advisors need to know to successfully use these products.

A New York federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against Reserve Management, its founder, Bruce Bent, Sr., and his son, Bruce Bent II, can proceed since the SEC adequately proved they committed fraud through misstatements and omissions of facts about the flagship Primary Fund.

Ask a broker why 12b-1 fees exist and you’ll get a variety of answers. The SEC's chairman said there should be greater transparency around the fees, which could be as high as 1%.

The Baltimore fund company is considering fixed income and equity strategies and is not planning on cloning any existing funds.

"Almost Hard to Fathom," Mier Said.