Money Management Executive Latest News

Nearly every asset class saw robust performance in the second quarter, but the initial elation at the lack of terrible news has worn off as investors brace for a tough second half, according to Lipper's review of the second quarter.

While mergers and acquisitions among asset management companies were down significantly during the first half of 2009, many M&A experts predict this decline will flatten out or reverse by the end of the year, driven by renewed faith in the profitability of asset firms and banks' continued need to raise capital.

Despite the best performing returns for mutual funds in the second quarter in the past six years, investors appear unsure that the market is actually turning around because they don’t see sustained strength in the economy or corporate earnings. In fact, some fear the recession could get worse.

After 56% of fund managers cut their equity exposure in the first five months of the year, in June, 32% said they would increase their equity investments, and 14% said they would hold them steady, according to a survey by the U.K.’s Association of Investment Companies.

iShares has introduced the iShares S&P Emerging Markets Infrastructure Index Fund. The timing is auspicious, as in May, emerging market ETFs attracted $6 billion, 40% of the $14.9 billion that investors placed in ETFs. And the trading volume of iShares emerging markets funds has increased 119% this year.

National Financial has enhanced its brokerage platform, Streetscape, with wealth management tools and Thomson ONE market data. The platform previously offered only account, trading and risk management capabilities.

Total assets of money market mutual funds climbed $4.36 billion to reach $3.668 trillion for the week ending July 8, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Despite the volatile markets of late 2008 and early 2009, investor participation remains fairly stable, according to a review of retirement markets by Dublin-based Research and Markets.

After only two years as president of Fidelity Investments, Rodger Lawson may be looking for a new job soon, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Hedge funds experienced their best six months during the first half of this year since 1999, according to Hennessee Group, a hedge fund advisory firm. The Hennessee Hedge Fund Index rose 11.74% through June 2009, second only to gains of 14.81% a decade ago.