Investments

Franklin Resources, the parent of Franklin Templeton Investments, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in K2 Advisors Holdings, a fund of hedge funds manager, from private equity shop TA Associates.

Fidelity Investments seems to be not-so-secretly building its long-awaited foray into the exchange-traded fund market out West, after hiring an executive and creating a new division in Denver.

Nationwide Funds has launched a new inflation-protected mutual fund, the Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (NIFAX/NIFIX), which will primarily bets on U.S. Treasury-issued Inflation Protected Securities.

A greater number of Americans believe that their personal finances and the economy are in better shape than they were a year ago, according to a new survey from a unit of JPMorgan Chase.

Palmer Square Capital Management this week added a merger arbitrage manager to its growing stable of alternative funds.

The Alternative Strategies Mutual Fund, a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II, has bid farewell to a quartet of subadvisors, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

What are mainstream media publications writing about the wealth management industry: A look at tax hikes (and tax cuts); college savings; the Fed's attempt to boost the economy; what should entrepreneurs know about estate planning; and how good are your planner's credentials?

Emerald Asset Advisors has tapped Trademark Capital Management to manage the EAS Global Cycle Fund (EGCAX, EGCEX, EGCSX), now renamed the EAS Trademark Capital Global Fund.

Orinda Asset Management, an independent, privately-held asset management firm, has launched the Orinda SkyView Macro Opportunities Fund (OMOIX and OMOAX), a multi-manager hedge fund offering.

kasina has released its list of Online Leaders in Asset Management, and two firms from Beantown have come out on top as the choice du jour for advisors.

Nationwide Funds has launched a new inflation-protected mutual fund, the Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (NIFAX/NIFIX), which will primarily bets on U.S. Treasury-issued Inflation Protected Securities.

Investors poured $26.4 billion into taxable-bond funds and another $5.6 billion into municipal-bond funds last month, according to data from Morningstar.

ING U.S., the holding company for ING U.S.'s core Retirement, Investment Management and Insurance businesses, has expanded the roles and responsibilities for some members of its executive team.

When 2008 began, a record $12.0 trillion was held in mutual funds by individuals and institutions. Then came the credit crisis, which erupted exactly four years ago. By the end of 2008, holdings in mutual funds were down to $9.6 trillion, a drop of 20.0%.

The threat that federal subsidy payments for Build America Bonds could be slashed under the sequestration process after administration officials assured issuers those payments were safe could permanently sour the muni market on BABs and other direct pay bonds, market participants said Monday.

When 2008 began, a record $12.0 trillion was held in mutual funds by individuals and institutions.

The Board of Directors of the Valley Forge Fund last month terminated the fund’s investment advisory agreement with Valley Forge Management Corporation, effective as of October 31.

Even as increased liquidity in Europe and the United States has boosted investors' outlook, sending stocks to four-year highs, the U.S. dollar has suffered. All the sectors of the S&P 500 have become much more sensitive to fluctuations in the value of the dollar over the last three years, but by looking at correlations, investors can see which sectors are most likely to benefit, according to Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ.

ING U.S., the holding company for ING U.S.'s core Retirement, Investment Management and Insurance businesses, has expanded the roles and responsibilities for some members of its executive team.

Investors poured $26.4 billion into taxable-bond funds and another $5.6 billion into municipal-bond funds last month, according to data from Morningstar.