Investment funds

SEC Increasing Scrutiny of Insider Trading at Hedges; Issues Questions to Funds

Municipal bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have gone from zero to 60 miles per hour in just a few days. And the race continues.

Executives Protest Raising Hedge Funds' Taxes

District Court Orders Market Timer to Pay $500k

Competition, if nothing else, keeps companies constantly looking for the next innovative product or strategy that will bring more assets to their firm. That is why many asset management firms are choosing to offer the increasingly popular 130/30 strategies as the benefits of shorting stocks can outweigh the benefits of going long, according to the report "130/30: From Rationale to Implementation" by New York-based Merrill Lynch.

General American Settles With SEC for $3.3M

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the asset management industry is booming, and demand is not likely to stop anytime soon, nor are the competitive prices buyers are willing to pay for the deals. However, market turmoil and a more challenging leveraged finance environment could temporarily cool the enthusiasm of some private equity shops for asset managers and derail initial public offerings,

While mutual fund companies and investment banks have had meteorologists on their trading desks for almost 30 years, the practice apparently is increasing-affecting portfolio managers' trading decisions not only of commodities, power, utilities, agriculture and energy securities, but also consumer goods, transportation, construction, infrastructure, shipping and leisure. In addition, in the past 10 years, the insight of meteorologists on the trading floor has led to the development of weather risk management tools-futures, derivatives and insurance.

Hedge funds must learn to open up a little while clamping down on operational risk management, according to a recent web presentation by Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu.

While mutual fund companies and investment banks have had meteorologists on their trading desks for almost 30 years, the practice apparently is increasing-affecting portfolio managers' trading decisions not only of commodities, power, utilities, agriculture and energy securities, but also consumer goods, transportation, construction, infrastructure, shipping and leisure. In addition, in the past 10 years, the insight of meteorologists on the trading floor has led to the development of weather risk management tools-futures, derivatives and insurance.

GAO Suggests Incentives To Keep Workers Working

While sell-side research struggles to keep up its allure with the buy-side, many mutual fund companies are turning to alternative research, as it can offer unique and innovative ideas.

Citigroup's acquisition of BISYS for $1.47 billion last May, with a subsequent spin off of two units to private equity firm J.C. Flowers appeared to be a done deal. But one last under-the-radar acquisition took place two weeks ago.

The subprime mortgage crisis appears to be spreading beyond the credit markets, dampening not only the U.S. stock market, but also international markets.

The subprime mortgage crisis appears to be spreading beyond the credit markets, dampening not only the U.S. stock market, but also international markets.

BoA Snags Jeffrey Carney From Fidelity Investments

Global warming and its effect on climate changes isn't just the topic du jour for cocktail parties. This worldwide theme is making its way into mutual fund strategies. Fund advisors are hoping to get both a warm reception from investors and generate hot investment returns.

The Hartford Fined $115M In Rigging, Timing Case

Although Barclays Global Investors runs $301 billion in exchange-traded fund money through 137 funds- commanding a 60% share of the $500 billion ETF market-Vanguard and State Street are launching new products and marketing campaigns to catch up, Reuters reports.

The first of a new wave of 130/30 long/short mutual funds are hitting the mainstream investment landscape. They are taking their cue from the institutional arena where 130/30 strategies have been a scorching hot commodity and are rolling out to clients at a record pace.