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AARP Financial is now offering three index funds specifically designed for investors age 50 or older with a mid- to long-term time frame. AARP's first offerings since it severed its 21-year-relationship with Scudder Investments in December, the funds will invest between 25% and 75% of assets in stock index funds.

American Century Names New Portfolio Managers

As the 76 million Baby Boomers begin to retire in the next five years - creating the biggest demographic wave in our country's history - they will hunger for "outcome-oriented" funds that mitigate risk and either generate income, protect principal or guarantee at least modest returns.

The run on residential real estate investment trusts (REITs) may be set to slow soon, despite some analysts' predictions, according to a report from Lipper of New York.

The Securities and Exchange Commission believes that Nelson Obus, a hedge fund manager who traded on insider information about an anticipated merger between SunSource and another company, flaunted the information as opposed to being discreet, the Star Ledger reports.

Capital Link has announced the winners of its annual Closed-End Fund & ETF Awards.

The NASD has filed charges against Steven W. Norin, a broker with Citigroup Global Markets, and suspended him for 90 days on charges that he participated in a pattern of short sale violations in his personal accounts. In addition he will have to pay a $400,000 fine. In settling with the NASD, Norin neither admitted or denied the charges.

T. Rowe Price Group had record revenue in the first quarter of 2006, and there was a 24% increase in first quarter profit, as investors increased their investments in the firm's mutual funds, the company said in its release.

The NASD has issued an alert on its website warning that cashing out even a small fraction of a 401(k) investment account could be detrimental to one's retirement savings.

Columbia Management announced this week it plans to consolidate its mutual fund offerings. The mergers, which affect 11 funds, were approved by the board of trustees last month and now must pass muster with shareholders of the acquired funds.

Emerging market stocks became hot approximately three years ago, and it seems as though investors are finally noticing, as they poured $5.4 billion into diversified emerging markets fund in the last quarter of 2005, according The Wall Street Journal.

Regulatory filings show that many Fidelity portfolio managers put their money where their mouths are--millions worth, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal..

Historically, U.S. investors have been known to be rather skittish when it comes to risky investments such as commodities and international, small-cap and aggressive stocks. However, recently they have been bullish when it comes to these asset classes, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Richard C. Casey, a Manhattan federal judge, has denied a motion to dismiss any allegations in regards to two Citigroup executives - CEO Thomas W. Jones, and treasurer/CFO Lewis E. Daidone - who allegedly cheated customers out of millions of dollars in savings that a transfer agent affiliate of the firm's Smith Barney funds created, Dow Jones reports.

AARP Financial is now offering three index funds specifically designed for investors age 50 or older with a mid- to long-term time frame. AARP's first offerings since it severed its 21-year-relationship with Scudder Investments in December, the funds will invest between 25% and 75% of assets in stock index funds.

CitiStreet is offering immediate annuities from eight leading companies to retiring participants in its defined contribution retirement plans.

Nasdaq and First Trust Advisors have teamed up to launch two new exchange-traded funds, both tied to the performance of Nasdaq indexes.

Artisan Partners has hired a new investment team to run an emerging markets mutual fund that will be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the coming weeks. The team will also manage some separate account business, officials at the Milwaukee-based shop said.

Fidelity-owned National Financial has launched three new services to assist broker/dealers.

The small business retirement plan market is red hot, according to a new report from Corporate Insight, and the opportunities for mutual funds are expansive.