Investment funds

The British government is considering an overhaul of their tax code for mutual funds that could put the responsibility for declaring income from funds directly on investors, according to foreign news reports.

Assets of the top 10 hedge fund companies in the U.S. grew by more than a third in 2007, despite a combined loss of $24 billion, due to redemptions and faltering performance, the Financial Times writes.

Europe’s richest families are shifting their investments from traditional assets to hedge funds and commodities, according to a new report profiled by Reuters.

As the stock and bond markets continue to take a beating, institutions, individuals and hedge funds have begun pumping dollars into commodity mutual funds and other investment vehicles based on commodities.

Financial companies should take precautions to protect themselves from fraud from within and without, but companies should be careful not to cross the line and start spying on employees.

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae has posted a $3.55 billion loss for the last quarter of 2007, blaming rising home loan defaults. It set aside $2 billion to cover other bad loans and warned the U.S. housing slump could get worse.

Brennan Names His Replacement at Vanguard, As McNabb Takes Helm

NICSA Names Hamacher as Weidlich's Replacement

WASHINGTON - House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank is preparing a $35 billion housing package that would expand the government's role in combating the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

MIAMI-U.S. companies are retiring the idea of the traditional, defined benefit pension plan in favor of do-it-yourself IRAs and 401(k) plans.

South Africa-based Old Mutual PLC which is better known in Europe, and in particular the U.K., hasn't exactly become a household name in the U.S. - yet. But the firm gets an "E" for effort.

After years on the back burner, the Securities and Exchange Commission's rule governing mutual fund marketing fees is in store for a "complete overhaul," according to commission chairman Christopher Cox.

A new study from Tiburon Strategic Advisors takes a broad look at consumer wealth, the pending baby boomer savings crisis and boomers' likely liquefaction of assets. Consumer Wealth, Liquefaction and the Retirement Income Challenge addresses the financial concerns and savings goals of consumers and consumer households in the U.S. today.

Freddie Mac said it will raise prices further and add underwriting restrictions for the mortgages it guarantees, because of "continued deterioration of credit quality and declining home values in most areas of the country."

In the debate over whether lenders are doing enough to stem the tide of foreclosures, there has been little in the way of comprehensive data on such efforts, but $2.2 trillion Citigroup Inc. has taken a step to shine some light in this area.

The wealth management unit of Citigroup Inc. has agreed to buy Legg Mason Inc.’s managed account trading and technology operations.

Hall Capital Names Boneparth as President

The vast majority of retirees opt against voluntarily annuitizing retirement savings. So, insurers need to better educate consumers about immediate annuity benefits.

MIAMI-As the burden of responsibility for retirement planning continues to shift toward the individual, investors should be cautious about "fast analysis" investment advice, a top financial executive told attendees at the NICSA conference here last Tuesday.

U.S. money manager Legg Mason denied market rumors this week that one of its money market funds had fallen to below $1 in net asset value, commonly known as "breaking the buck."