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Matthews International Capital Management has launched an umbrella UCITS in Luxembourg comprised of three Asia-focused funds: Asia Dividend Fund, Pacific Tiger Fund and China Fund. It is the first time investors outside of the U.S. have had access to Matthews funds.

Americans’ financial security sentiments inched up in October for the first time in six months, increasing by 0.7 points to 64.4, the Country Financial Security Index shows.

Genworth Financial has agreed to pay $35 million, plus additional performance-based payments, to acquire alternative investments platform provider Altegris. The deal is expected to close at the end of the year.

Whereas a year ago, 64% of American workers expected to work at least another three years to recoup the losses taken in their retirement accounts as a result of the financial crisis, 80% now are planning to remain in the workforce another three years to age 70 or older.

Expect moderate growth of 2%, led a gradual rise in consumer spending, private-sector investment and more spending by the federal government, at least until the 2011 tax season. That’s what Wells Fargo’s economic group is predicting for the near future of what it describes as a fairly boring recovery.

RiverPark Advisors has launched a new family of no-load open-end mutual funds, three of which will invest in large-cap stocks.

Institutional investors’ outlook for global growth improved in the third quarter, with more than two-thirds, 68%, saying a double-dip recession is unlikely, a survey of 83 managers by Northern Trust Global Advisors found.

State Street Corp. has launched a new service to enable exchange-traded fund market makers and specialists automate orders. As ETFs have continued to grow in popularity and in number, State Street said, the complexity involved in servicing them has increased significantly.

The Hartford Financial Services Group has launched a new educational program to encourage participation in 401(k)s and other defined contribution plans.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued final regulations under a law change that will require reporting of basis and other information by stock brokers and mutual fund companies for most stock purchased in 2011 and all stock purchased in 2012 and later years, making it easier for investors to report their gains and losses next year on their tax returns.

Asset management firms are working to create an entire culture of risk management that discounts historical trends and tools, embraces even the most outlandish outlying possibilities and includes counterparty risk.

Volatile equities markets and heightened EU sovereign credit risk during the second quarter of 2010 have drawn significant attention to mutual fund performance. Beyond the challenges posed by the current market environment, mutual fund managers are also contending with a variety of strategic, operational and tactical changes that are reshaping their firms and the industry as a whole. Three key areas that should be firmly in their sights are:

The mystery of why America continues to rely on foreign oil and contaminate its environment-and subsequently why the green industry holds the promise of becoming a $6 trillion market but remains speculative, volatile and fragmented-is answered in the intriguing book, "The Climate War: True Believers, Power Brokers and the Fight to Save the Earth" (Eric Pooley, Hyperion, 2010).

Ben Woloshin has joined New York Life as head of relationship management for retirement income security (RIS), reporting to Executive Vice President Chris Blunt. Woloshin was previously with Goldman Sachs as vice president in the reinsurance group, responsible for institutional relationships.

With investors still worried about the state of the economy and fairness of markets, fund companies have redirected much of their public relations efforts at stressing the benefits of long-term investing, showcasing the expert opinions of their investment managers and stripping the varnish off spin.

Want to make sure a trade made by your sub-advisor does not get you in trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission?

The Shanghai Stock Exchange will create exchange-traded funds based on depositary indices maintained by BNY Mellon.

On the heels of its $4.9 billion acquisition of Hewitt Associates, Chicago-based Aon Corp. announced a three-year restructuring plan centered on eliminating 1,500 to 1,800 jobs, which it expects will save the company $280 million annually.

Fidelity, a year after creating a dedicated transition management group, Fidelity Capital Markets, has appointed Kevin Byrne to lead the growing practice.

Charles Schwab's adviser-managed assets increased 8% year-over-year in the third quarter to $609.9 billion.