BlackRock

Defined-maturity funds offer traditional fixed-income interest payments.

Markets have been whipsawed by mounting concern over softer economic data and President Trump’s trade wars with major partners.

Bullion gains have intensified amid signs that the Fed and other central banks are turning more dovish on monetary policy.

They say banks have good policies but discourage use of them.

The firm says it will focus the new funds on tech, demographics, urbanization, climate change and emerging global wealth.

Under new leadership, the firm’s iShares unit intends to create funds that it says go beyond traditional sectors and geographic focuses.

Worries over weak U.S. data, the impact of President Trump’s multi-front trade war and the interest rate outlook has whipsawed investors in recent weeks.

Activist investors have taken large stakes in at least 100 of the products so far this year.

BlackRock will appoint an “independent fiduciary to vote” on proxies, according to a spokesman.

The SEC has just approved an ETF with negative fees — a sign that fund managers need to continue adjusting to their straitened circumstances.

One of its products added a record $368 million after the firm discreetly slashed its fee in March.

The firm hopes the changes reflect its image as a “powerful, innovative and unified provider” of investment products, according to co-CEO Nico Marais.

The firm, along with the broader asset management industry, is focused on ways to expand its global reach amid mounting pressure for growth.

The asset manager’s share price fell 24% in 2018 while institutions have pulled money from its investment products for three straight quarters.

The firm unveiled a discount in a footnote on page 94 of a revised regulatory filing.

Issuers are creating multi-factor funds that offer exposure to several return-enhancing characteristics.

Part of the risk in any pivot to private equity is whether it would be essentially pawning what has been until recently a diamond of a business model.

The asset manager is shifting more responsibility to regional leaders.

Name changes are coming to 94 of the firm’s long-term mutual funds.

Asset managers have felt the pressure as volatility roils global markets and investors continue to demand low-fee funds that require far fewer workers.