Portfolio

Sometimes it just isn’t your year. And 2011 wasn't the greatest of years for some of the world's most iconic companies, particularly for tech firms such as Cisco Systems and HP that have delivered massive returns to shareholders for years. However, comparing these select 30 stocks’ performance against one another over a one-year period is hardly a comprehensive or “fair” method to evaluate each company’s long- or short-term prospects. For the year, the Dow is up just over 6%. They say success has a million fathers but failure is an orphan. Here’s hoping you or your clients were holding a large position in these Dow stocks this year. Also see: The 10 Best-Performing Dow Stocks of 2011

Eurozone worries contributed to a modest dip in investor confidence in December, according to a State Street analysis.

The accountant and attorney for the estate of a 104-year-old copper mine heiress who died earlier this year have been under investigation for their handling of their client's finances, and the accountant has now resigned as executor.

Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext said they have decided to push back the deadline for completing their merger until March 31.

Everybody loves a winner and if you or your clients held any of these top-performing Dow component stocks in their portfolios this year, there’s a pretty good chance they did quite well for themselves in 2011.

Only 30 stocks comprise the world’s most closely watched index – the Dow Jones Industrial Average – and its daily, weekly, monthly and annual gains (or losses) serve as a very handy – albeit simplistic – snapshot of investor sentiment and a decent barometer of how the U.S. and world economies are fairing. Of course, comparing these select 30 stocks’ performance against one another over a one-year period is hardly a comprehensive or “fair” method to evaluate each company’s long- or short-term prospects. There are far too many factors – good and bad – that influence any stock’s performance over a 52-week period. And to merely be a member of this exclusive group probably means the company is doing – or has been doing – something right for quite some time. Saying that, everybody loves a winner and if you or your clients held any of these top-performing Dow component stocks in their portfolios this year, there’s a pretty good chance they did quite well for themselves in 2011. For the year, the Dow is up just over 6%. Here’s an interactive slideshow featuring the 10 Best-Performing Dow component stocks of 2011. Also see: The 10 Worst-Performing Dow Stocks of 2011

Stocks closed largely unchanged in languid trading Tuesday as the Dow Jones Industrial average trimmed 2.65 points to finish at 12,291.35. Trading volume was predictably light in the first session following the holiday weekend.

Aston Asset Management has launched the Aston/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund, sub-advised by Silvercrest Asset management Group, a high-quality, value-oriented boutique headquartered in New York.

Knight Capital Group has launched two actively managed exchange-traded funds run by subsidiary Astor Asset Management. The funds are the Astor Active Income ETF Fund and the Astor SP Growth ETF Fund.

Aston Asset Management has launched the Aston/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund, sub-advised by Silvercrest Asset management Group, a high-quality, value-oriented boutique headquartered in New York.