Portfolio

NEW YORK - Fund companies continued to introduce new exchange-traded funds throughout the past year, but the market will not be able to support an unlimited number of the new products, according to several industry executives.

American Century Investments of Kansas City, Mo. has filed for the registration of a new fund that would carry harsh restrictions aimed at discouraging market timers from investing in the fund.

The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States of New York, a unit of AXA Financial of New York, is in the process of developing the Equitable Premier Funds, a family of ten open-end, mutual funds.

The Vanguard Group of Malvern, Pa. has begun offering investors the ability to open new accounts online in a paperless transaction that collects investors' consent through electronic signatures, the company has announced.

New York Life Investment Management of Parsippany, N.J. has filed a registration statement with the SEC for its NYLIM Exchange-Traded Fund.

The Vanguard Group of Malvern, Pa. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer its Admiral share class, a discounted share class available to some investors, on 13 of its bond funds, the company has announced.

American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation of Shelton, Conn. has added three index portfolios and eight sector portfolios to its fund offerings, according to the company.

The Willamette Funds of Portland, Ore., is planning to introduce a new fund that will invest in companies that have received venture capital financing, according to a preliminary prospectus filed Jan. 19 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A significant number of investors in retirement are planning to increase their contributions to their 401(k) plans and become more aggressive in their allocations in 2001, according to a recent survey by Fidelity Investments of Boston.

New York Life Investment Management of Parsippany, N.J. has announced the launch of the Eclipse Funds, a fund family made up of 18 no-load funds to be distributed through fee-based financial planners and wrap programs.