Investments

Sal Gilbertie, former head of the OTC Energy and Renewables Desk at Newedge USA, is the co-founder of Santa Fe, N.M.-based Teucrium, exchange-traded fund shop that specializes in futures trading of agricultural commodities.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 213.66 points to close at 12,715.93 Tuesday as investors continued to dump shares following more disappointing economic data.

San Antonio, Texas-based USAA has hired Keith Sloane, as head of third-party distribution, responsible for expanding the firm’s strategic partnerships with third-party platforms and registered investment advisers.

The Advisor Solutions Group at Neuberger Berman LLC has added 11 senior regional directors in 10 new regions as it seeks to grow its mutual funds business among wirehouses and regional broker dealers.

The median profit margins of investment advisors, both pre- and post-marketing costs, rose in 2011, according to Lipper’s latest research report, Investment Management Profitability Analysis for 2012.

There’s been a death in the Vanguard Family. Howard B. Schow, co-founder and chairman emeritus of PRIMECAP Management Company and longtime co-manager of several Vanguard funds, has passed away at 84 years old.

Saturna Capital Corporation, investment adviser to the Amana, Sextant, and Idaho Tax-Exempt Mutual Funds, has launched the Sextant Global High Income Fund, a flexible mandate fund which seeks high income from a globally diversified portfolio of debt and equity securities.

A group of alternative mutual funds is kicking off its second annual advisor road show today in hopes of educating advisors on the benefits of alternative investing and, ultimately, winning business.

The usage of defined contribution plans and collective investment trusts is growing quickly, resulting in a big impact on the ways that pension holders invest for the future, according to research released by SEI.

Financial advisors are increasingly turning towards alternative investments and tactical asset allocations in response to market turbulence, according to a survey released by Curian Capital.

New York Life's Investments Group, which offers retail mutual funds through its MainStay Funds family, set new sales records for MainStay mutual funds.

Nervous money, spooked off last year by banking analyst Meredith Whitney's prediction on "60 Minutes" of widespread defaults, is now flocking back to the tax-free debt of cities, states and other public entities such as colleges and toll bridges.

Invesco says shareholders of the Invesco High Income Municipal Fund and the Invesco U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund have approved a plan to merge those funds into the Invesco Van Kampen High Yield Municipal Fund and Invesco Van Kampen American Value Fund, respectively.

The first criminal trial involving muni market executives accused of bid-rigging is scheduled to begin next week in a federal court in New York City, unless they enter into plea agreements.

It’s almost a done deal.

Chicken Little was wrong about municipal bonds and the funds that invest in them.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell another 130.55 points Monday to close at 12,929.59 while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 lost 33.42 points and 15.88 points, respectively.

New York-based Fred Alger Management, Inc. today launched a new interactive timeline, dubbed "Three Leaders, One Vision," on the firm’s website detailing the history of the firm’s leadership.

New York Life Investments today said it achieved company records in both gross and net sales in 2011.

Financial advisors are increasingly turning towards alternative investments and tactical asset allocations in response to market turbulence, according to a survey released by Curian Capital.