Portfolio

The tax-exempt market struggled throughout the week under the weight of heavy new issuance as yields jumped double digits.

The hunt is on for yield in the municipal market as interest rates continue to hover around historical lows, forcing investors to use varying strategies to boost returns.

The Women Advisors Forum traveled to Dallas for the first time on May 22 for a full day of sessions on what's next for the economy, advising clients through divorce, reaching younger generations, success secrets from multi-million dollar advisors and more. Check out these photos for some of the day's highlights, and stay tuned for more Women Advisors Forum news from our next event in Chicago on June 12.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved up 93.24 points to close at 12,554.20 Friday while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 gained 27.40 points and 10.67 points, respectively.

On June 8, 2012, Global X Funds filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for two more ETFs employing the same investment strategy as its GURU ETF, which debuted this week.

On June 8, 2012, kasina unveiled a new research report looking at how asset management and insurance firms are currently using mobile technologies to interact with their wholesalers and advisors.

On June 8, 2012, PIMCO filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for another active exchange-traded offering, dubbed the PIMCO Diversified Income Exchange-Traded Fund.

Ever since the merger between alternative investment shop Ramius and investment bank Cowen Group in November 2009, the two firms have been looking at ways to integrate and grow Ramius' hedge funds, fund of funds, real estate and cash management businesses.

Financial services software giant SunGard has launched a service for international fund processing and distribution, as part of its overall SunGard Global Network Funds service.

Customization has proved to catapult hedge fund of funds into the institutional limelight of late for many small pension and endowment plan sponsors. However, asset size and back office capabilities are still major determinants on whether the inherit fees are worth the worries of commitment to the alternatives vehicle.