Portfolio

The Department of Labor has decided not to include stable-value funds as one of its recommended default options for 401(k) plans under the Pension Protection Act. Instead, the DOL is advocating balanced funds, lifecycle funds and a professionally managed, diversified portfolio as the default choices.

Mass. Investigating Failed Bear Stearns Hedge Funds

Earlier this month, Nasdaq launched its official entry into the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listing competition by rolling out its official, proprietary ETF marketplace.

As the asset management industry undergoes a period of restructuring and realignment, independence is emerging as an important strategic asset when it comes to gathering assets, building a brand and attracting and retaining employees.

Swedish Export Credit Corp., a Stockholm, Sweden-based state-owned firm, is gearing up to participate in an offering of as much as $1 billion in four new exchange-traded notes (ETNs) that will track to four lesser-known commodity indexes.

While most 401(k) investors hardly give a thought to employer matches-and even employers usually don't promote them heavily to employees-an innovative investment solution from Barclays Global Investors of San Francisco specifically designed for company matches might finally generate some interest in this neglected company perk.

Backlog of Cases Puts SEC's Future in Question

Mutual fund managers have been increasingly gravitating toward alternative investments as a way to boost returns and compete with hedge funds. By some estimates, alternative investment funds could soon account for as much as 10% of assets in mutual funds.

It isn't often that mutual fund firms launch remarkable, truly unique new products. Certainly, exchange-traded, lifecycle, 130/30 and emerging-market funds have been among the most significant and popular offerings in recent years.

WisdomTree Retirement Services, a unit of WisdomTree Investments of New York, is the latest firm to launch a platform designed for the 401(k) market that offers plan sponsors a combination of ETFs and mutual funds, or a selection of all ETFs combined into preset portfolios.