Portfolio

The honeymoon between Chinese mutual fund investors and the surging market appears to be over. Investors are attributing large financial loses to what many are characterizing as “unprofessional” management, China Daily reports. Beginning in the third quarter last years, a surge in the Chinese market prompted 23 mutual funds to split their funds, which decreased the price, to try to expand scale quickly.

Hard times, unemployment and medical emergencies are leading more and more workers to take loans from their 401(k) retirement plans.

London-based hedge fund The Children’s Investment Fund Management LLP (TCI) posted its largest monthly loss ever – over $1 billion – for June 2008.

Prudential Financial recently announced an insurance program targeted at the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

Wells Fargo & Co., while bruised by California's slumping housing market, increased revenue by capitalizing on recent acquisitions in its insurance business and growing demand in the agriculture sector to beat analysts' second-quarter earnings expectations.

U.S. Bancorp has named William Benjamin as CEO of U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Insurance Services LLC.

The Philadelphia wealth management firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC has hired Francis J. McAleer Jr. as director of wealth management sales and marketing in its wealth management department.

WASHINGTON — Given another day to consider the Treasury Department’s plan to backstop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, lawmakers were considerably less enthusiastic and seemed likely to make significant changes. Some Senate Banking Committee members were downright skeptical, arguing that the plan’s costs must be pinpointed.

State Street Corp.'s top executive said market conditions will make it difficult for his Boston company to maintain its strong second-quarter growth, but he hopes to weather the second half by focusing on core businesses, cutting expenses, and attracting new customers.

Erin Callan, who was recently ousted from her position as Lehman Brothers’ chief financial officer, will begin a new role as head of Credit Suisse’s global hedge fund business on Sept. 2.