Portfolio

Much as target-date funds are gaining traction in 401(k) plans, parents investing in 529 college savings plans are overwhelmingly preferring age-based funds that become more conservative as a child’s first year of college approaches, Investment News reports, citing speakers at the recent 529 Technical Conference.

Employers and employees at small businesses don't see eye to eye when it comes to 401(k)s, according to a Harris Interactive survey commissioned by ShareBuilder Advisors, a 401(k) administrator that specializes in serving small companies.

Despite signs that mutual funds and hedge funds are converging, long-only mutual funds are slackers compared to hedge funds when it comes to using external research.

Legg Expects to Announce New Chief Executive Soon; Says Search is Progressing

After Two Month Suspension, China Again Approving Mutual Funds

DTCC's Managed Account Service Ready to Roll

NEW YORK-While the subprime crisis battered the stock market in the third quarter and the fourth quarter isn't expected to be any better, mutual fund portfolio managers and analysts believe the credit market turmoil will blow over. They spoke earlier this month at a media conference co-sponsored by Lipper and SunStar.

Predictions that the mutual fund industry will embrace elaborate alternative strategies, driven in part by European regulatory changes, may be a bit preliminary, according to some state-side asset management executives.

Donohue Urges Directors To Focus on Fair Value

Amid the sobering talk of a possible recession, there were two pieces of news last week that are cause for additional consternation. First, bond guru Bill Gross of Pimco warned that the subprime crisis could linger for another two years, wiping out another $250 billion in loan defaults through the end of next year on top of the $900 billion worth of current questionable collateralized debt obligations and subprime loans.