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Transamerica is planning to roll out the Transamerica Global Tactical Fund in October.

The ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe, debt concerns in the U.S. following its credit downgrade, weak GDP growth in the U.S. and Japan still reeling from the March earthquake have put the global economy in a fragile state, according to Business Monitor International.

A barrage of dour economic reports, the recent market correction, the U.S. credit downgrade, job insecurity and lower individual net worth pulled the Bankrate Financial Security Index down to 92.3.

U.S. prime money market funds are lowering their exposure to European banks and holding shorter maturity securities, Fitch reports.

With stocks bouncing around like they’re on a trampoline, it can be difficult for investors to find companies that offer any possibility of steady growth or protection against a further slump -- particularly with the economy looking increasingly weak.

Tom Steinert-Threlkeld

Bank of America will lay off at least 3,500 employees in the next few months.

iShares has launched the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index Fund.

The downgrade of U.S. debt may have led to more market volatility than the Flash Crash.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.5% in July to 115.80 ( 2004 = 100 ), marking the third month in a row that the index has risen. June saw a 0.3% gain, and May say a 0.7% increase.

Van Eck Global has introduced the Market Vectors Mortgage REIT Income ETF (ticker: MORT).

In its attempt to deliver additional quality buy-and-hold alternative investments to investors, Direxion has hired Edward Egilinsky as managing director, head of alternative investments.

In light of the recent market volatility, a new report from Fidelity Investments analyzing the performance of 401(k) balances between Oct. 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011 is quite telling—giving a testimonial to the value of sticking with the stock market even amid the worst declines.

Tom Steinert-Threkeld

With the market and economy turbulent, fund managers are steering away from equities and toward the safe haven of cash.

Fidelity Clearing Canada has enhanced its Streetscape workstation with additional market research news and information as well as syndication data on new issue distribution and reporting.

As news of economic uncertainty, rising food and gas prices, market volatility, unemployment and government budget debates continue to abound, consumers are focused more than ever on reducing their debt and saving more, according to the Consumer Financial Monitor, released by the Corporate Executive Board.

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services will acquire Securities America, the embattled, independent broker-dealer subsidiary of Ameriprise, for an initial payment of $150 million in cash, according to a company statement released Wednesday morning.

Cantor Fitzgerald is in the process of launching an ETF Arbitrage business that will provide customers with two-sided ETF markets, encompassing full-service execution, research and market color.

A senior employee known as an aggressive workaholic, but who seems stressed, yet rarely takes vacations, declines promotions and zealously protects his business unit from outside scrutiny while personally handling choice vendors may be up to something devious.