Investments

So what does a quartet of space ships beaming up a cow and an exploding airbag have to do with investment management?

Look out for a switch in sub-advisers for one Touchstone Investments fund.

Morningstar has launched the Morningstar US Real Asset Index, a diversified portfolio of liquid assets that traditionally provide a hedge against inflation, including Treasury inflation-protected securities, real estate investment trusts, and commodity stocks and futures.

Two firms are touting the launch of a new high income fund.

BlackRock Inc., the world’s biggest money manager, said fourth-quarter earnings increased 24 percent as its exchange-traded funds drew client deposits and assets rose.

Nasdaq OMX Group said it hired Bradley J. Peterson as its global chief information officer.

After four consecutive weeks of negative flows, mutual funds finally enjoyed a week of stellar sales.

DoubleLine Capital has unveiled its latest equity funds just a few weeks after hiring away two portfolio managers from TCW Group.

A Securities and Exchange Commission member said Wednesday that many improvements to the municipal securities market can be made by the SEC without seeking regulatory authority over municipal issuers from Congress.

Fidelity Investments has closed off one of its funds to new investors.

EIG Global Energy Partners has reached a deal with the TCW Group whereby EIG will publicly support the buyout of TCW by the Carlye Group.

Looks like Vanguard isn't the only company into mass hirings.

Pyxis Capital is ramping up its sales force with the addition of four wholesalers to cover Texas, Illinois, California and the Northeast.

Cole Wilcox, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Longboard Asset Management, has some lofty goals for the alternative mutual fund shop this year.

Legg Mason Inc., the money manager best known as home to stockpicker Bill Miller, is folding Miller’s Legg Mason Capital Management division into its ClearBridge Investments equity unit as assets have tumbled.

The Internal Revenue Service plans to introduce a simplified way for small business owners and home-based employees to claim the home office tax deduction.

DoubleLine Capital has unveiled its latest equity funds just a few weeks after hiring away two portfolio managers from TCW Group.

ING has quietly erased an alternative mutual fund from its portfolio.

Quant shop Analytic Investors has hired Paul Runge as a Director of Business Development to focus on institutional investors, with an emphasis on public pension plans.

Indie firm Global X Funds has launched yet another fund this week.