Special Program Root Tag

Global X Funds on Wednesday launched the Global X Aluminum ETF, which it says it the first exchange-traded fund globally focused on aluminum. The fund tracks the Solactive Global Aluminum Index

U.S. REITs continued to significantly outperform the broader equity market in 2010, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts said Wednesday. U.S. REITs rose 27.95% in 2010, compared to the S&P 500’s 15.06% gain.

Equity funds delivered 16.57% in 2010, with more than one-third of the gains, 6.43%, coming in during the last five weeks of the year, Lipper said.

Putnam Investments has promoted Robert E. Alan to head of North American consultant relations and Keith E. Thomas to head of international consultant relations. The two will work with the consultants who advise institutional investors on investment strategy and the selection of managers.

The Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator jumped 2.2 points to 46.1 in December, after holding steady at 43.9 in October and November. In December 2009, the indicator stood at 38.7.

The U.S. economy will muddle through 2011 even as domestic stocks rake in double-digit percentage returns for the third straight year, said Robert C. Doll, the chief equity strategist for fundamental equities at BlackRock, in a breakfast briefing in New York Tuesday.

Consumers prefer to be educated rather than be marketed at in online ads about personal finance.

Fairholme Funds has launched the Fairholme Allocation Fund, which will seek long-term returns from capital appreciation and income by investing in equities, fixed income, cash and cash equivalent securities.

ProShares on Tuesday launched two volatility exchange-traded funds, the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures funds.

As 401(k) balances rebounded in 2010, the executives running defined contribution plans named retirement readiness one of their top priorities, according to the “10th Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey,” conducted by Deloitte and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS).

Despite the government’s insider trading case against expert consultants and hedge funds, flows to hedge funds should be strong in 2011, predicts Agecroft Partners, basing its findings on interviews with 300 hedge funds and 1,500 institutional investors. Agecroft is an alternative investments consultancy.

As positive economic news continues, including a 20% increase in stocks since September, investors are beginning to embrace risk once again.

Nuveen Investments on Dec. 31 completed its acquisition of FAF Advisors, with FAF’s parent company, U.S. Bancorp, receiving a 9.5% stake in Nuveen, plus cash consideration in exchange for investment management of the FAF mutual funds.

WTP Advisors, a tax and business advisory firm, has acquired Sala Associates, an operations consultancy for hedge funds and investment banks.

The economic rebound in 2011 will be slow but steady—but not strong enough to prompt employers to begin hiring again, according to the findings of the latest Turnaround Management Association survey.

The outlook for the U.S. economy in 2011 appears to be ... slow and unsteady as she goes.

Employers are clearly more optimistic about the economy, for another 40% that had suspended 401(k) contributions will resume them by mid-2011, doubling the 40% that already have resumed suspended or reduced matches, the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America announced.

It is an exciting time to be in distribution at an asset management firm. Threats and opportunities abound.

On the ninth day before Christmas, money invested in U.S.-listed exchange traded funds and exchange-traded products crossed $1 trillion for the first time. The total actually was $1.027 trillion, with $887.2 billion in ETFs and $115.5 billion in ETPs, as tabulated by BlackRock's Global ETF Research and Implementation Strategy Team.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation plans to add a chairman of the board, with separate duties from that of its chief executive officer, Don Donohue.