Asset managers

The $180 billion asset manager is moving ahead with plans for actively-managed ETFs that disclose their holdings like mutual funds.

The asset manager was stuck at $700 billion in AUM for 18 months. Faced with a grim reality, Franklin made the obvious move: It got bigger in a hurry.

The nearly $4.5 billion deal is another case of consolidation in the industry, as firms grapple with falling fees and the rising challenge from managers of index-tracking funds.

The BlackRock fund recorded its largest one-day outflow in five years as the sector becomes a political lightening rod for Republicans and Democrats alike.

Although roughly 40% of the actively managed industry beat their indexes, the worst-performers eked out an average gain of just 1.07%.

It’s the best debut for any U.S. ETF this year, and a sign it’s not the only firm that sees potential in the sector.

The federal judge said he would have sentenced the firm’s former chief executive to a year but gave him “a discount” for his extensive philanthropy.

Geospatial data may assist the muni industry with monitoring the economic impact of wildfires or natural disasters, an expert says.

The firm is testing a new robot designed to execute corporate-bond trades directly with bots at dealer counterparties.

The green investing movement has totaled at least $30.7 trillion of funds held in sustainable or green investments in 2018, up 34% from 2016, data show.

Steady gains made in equity markets last year were "clearly a tailwind,” an expert says.

Fidelity Investments, Invesco and American Century Investments are among those pitching rival visions for ETFs that disclose their holdings like mutual funds.

The promotions positions Jim’s son Nathaniel Simons to assume his father’s role as chairman under a succession plan that began about a decade ago.

Macro funds, which invest in broad global trends, had the biggest disparity.

Once a top-performing fund with assets well over double today’s value, Templeton’s flagship bond fund has been diminished by the march of passive investments.

David Vogel, who spent five years using data to study the impact of global warming, is starting the fund as pensions and large investors increasingly seek ESG investments.

Timely trading in less-heralded semiconductor markers and firms committed to energy without fossil fuels produced a 54% total return last year, data show.

Similar products are stockpiling unprecedented levels of new cash as investors look to alternative assets for growth and income.

Asset managers stand to gain from an SEC-approved ETF structure since “selection of securities is the intellectual property for which they are paid fees.”

It’s the second straight year that Cliff Asness’ quant firm is announcing layoffs.