Special Program Root Tag

WASHINGTON — Since the beginning of the year, Wall Street firms, trade associations, and municipal bond issuers have significantly stepped up their lobbying efforts to get lawmakers to extend the Build America Bonds program before it expires at the end of December.

Moody's issued a report Tuesday finding a widespread "Apocalypse Now" among money market funds in the days surrounding the September 2008 implosion of Reserve Funds' Primary Fund, which broke the buck at 97 cents on the dollar due to heavy exposure to Lehman Brothers paper.

Morgan Stanley & Co. has been fined $800,000 by FINRA for failing to make public disclosures required by the agency’s rules governing research analyst conflicts of interest.

I ventured forth with predictions about what's in store for 401(k) plans in 2010 and beyond ("The shape of things to come for 401(k) plans," available at ebn.benefitnews.com).

Does a remote deposit capture upgrade to a church-management firm’s software spell Armageddon for the banking industry’s own RDC services?

The majority of advisers believe market structure issues were the primary reason for the Flash Crash on May 6, according to new research by BlackRock released on Monday. And despite new guidelines proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, advisers believe a similar event will likely happen again.

WASHINGTON — Four major municipal market groups are urging the Treasury Department to issue guidance confirming that the existing regulatory framework on issue price for tax-exempt bonds also applies to Build America Bonds and stating that if issuers follow certain long-standing practices, they can be confident they are complying with the rules in this area.

A group of U.S.-based companies calling itself TickLab Partners has told the Securities and Exchange Commission that it can create "a fully functional, consolidated audit trail" of capital markets activity for less than $100 million upfront and $100 million a year.

For much of the past decade, Todd Christy of Pyxis Mobile has been pushing the idea that mutual fund operators should conduct their business on mobile devices, such as the now obsolete Palm Pilot.

Major Wall Street, business, political and consumer finance magazines are warning investors about hidden 12b-1 and 401(k) fees, various share classes and the loads ascribed to them.

While quantitative analysts may feel they are no longer taking the blame for the financial crisis, they believe their work is still “misunderstood” by top executives.

Kathleen Hegenbart remembers the moment, five months ago, that proved a turning point for her. As is often the case in real life, it was not a dramatic office showdown. It was lunch. On a Wednesday.

Fund Manager Sentenced Six Years on Tax Charges

Major Wall Street, business, political and consumer finance magazines are warning investors about hidden 12b-1 and 401(k) fees, various share classes and the loads ascribed to them.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has hired David Tyrie, formerly with Putnam Investments, as head of personal retirement services. He will report directly to Andy Sieg, head of retirement and philanthropic services division.

Securities lending, once considered a mundane middle and back office operational chore, is quickly becoming the target of scrutiny from savvier plan sponsors who want a far better understanding of the financial benefits and pitfalls.

Cathe Tocher has excelled as a portfolio manager through very good times and bad. She is senior vice president of investments at Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co., whose five- and four-star Morningstar-rated stable-value portfolios continue to be embraced by the 401(k) marketplace.

For much of the past decade, Todd Christy of Pyxis Mobile has been pushing the idea that mutual fund operators should conduct their business on mobile devices, such as the now obsolete Palm Pilot.

Lincoln Investment Planning has acquired Great American Advisors (GAA), a Cincinnati-based broker-dealer with 310 reps and related retail accounts. The transaction was agreed upon in May, but Lincoln just added the new reps to its platform last week.

NYSE Euronext said its average daily volume in derivatives contracts increased 17.5% in July, worldwide, versus a year ago.