Portfolio

Eighty-three percent of the 60 institutional managers that Northern Trust surveyed expect corporate earnings to increase in the third quarter, and 84% expect the world economy to improve.

The pace at which the Internet continues to affect communications is nothing short of dramatic. Nearly every type of information is now instantaneously accessible, downloadable and hyperlinked. As we adapt to absorbing ever greater volumes of information, and to the rapid rate at which it comes at us, our preferences as consumers of information are changing.

Edward Bernard to Chair ICI's Board of Governors

Workers who had already been investing in their 401(k) for at least five years through 2008 saw their balances drop an average of 24% last year, compared with the S&P 500's sharp 37% decline, the Investment Company Institute and the Employee Benefit Research Institute said.

Crisis Has Not Prompted Mutual Funds, Other Institutional Investors to Change Portfolios

BOSTON - As tax experts at mutual fund companies hurry to prepare their fund accounting systems before newly mandated changes to federal cost-basis reporting rules take effect, they are finding they could use a little help and guidance from the government.

In 2007, Philip Moses, a Raymond James adviser at First Federal Bank of Florida in Lake City, had a local physician as a client who wanted to diversify his $1.5 million portfolio.

As exchange-traded funds continue to grow in scope and popularity, investment experts warn that some products, such as leveraged and inverse ETFs, may be too dangerous for all but the most experienced hands.

While most funds strictly adhere to their investment mandates, more are permitting their managers to move into cash and bonds as a defensive play. And the strategy proved to be extremely wise in last year’s steep declines.

Hedge funds rose 3.2% in September, slightly behind the S&P 500’s 3.6% gain but beating the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 2.3% gain, Hennessee Group said. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq advanced 5.6%.