Investments

There were 7,693 mutual funds at the end of February 2012, according data from the Investment Company Institute.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 124.80 points to end at 13,074.75 Wednesday as investors weighed the implications of the Fed’s latest policy meeting and cast a wary eye toward Europe.

The Exchange Traded Products (ETP) industry recorded its best ever start to a year, attracting net new assets of $67.3billion in the first quarter of 2012, a 57% increase over the $42.8billion gained in the first quarter of 2011, according to the Q1 2012 ETP Landscape Report released by BlackRock. The first quarter 2011 figure had previously been the best annual start on record.

Investors continue to spurn mutual funds that invest long-term in U.S. stocks, according to the latest statistics from the Investment Company Institute. For the week ended March 28, investors pulled $3.53 billion from domestic stock funds, the largest weekly outflow so far this year.

Investors continue to spurn mutual funds that invest long-term in U.S. stocks. For the week ended March 28, investors pulled $3.53 billion from the funds, the largest weekly outflow so far this year.

Bank of Montreal Global Asset Management has moved its defined contribution business away from its Institutional Trust services arm and given it a new brand name, BMO Retirement Services.

Exchange-traded funds are off to a strong start, with record first-quarter inflows reaching $55.9 billion.

Exchange-traded funds are off to a strong start, with record first-quarter inflows reaching $55.9 billion.

Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) has launched international hedged equity fund from Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (Gateway), designed to play a conservative, risk-managed role in a portfolio allocation to international equity.

Wintrust Financial Corporation has added a new member to its wealth services team in a push to expand in the Chicago market and its suburbs.

INTECH Investment Management LLC (INTECH), an independently managed subsidiary of Janus Capital Group Inc., launched two global dividend strategies: one focused on seeking capital appreciation and higher-than-average dividend yields and the other focused on absolute risk.

Investors are interested in adding alternative assets to their IRAs, but lack the expertise — and often the advisors — to go about it.

There were 7,693 mutual funds in February 2012, so how do women-managed funds find a way to stand out in this $12 trillion industry?

There were more than 8,500 mutual funds at the end of 2010, according to the 2011 Investment Company Fact Book. They range from long only equity and bond funds to alternative long/short mutual funds.

The IRS has launched a compliance practice research team that will seek to identify red-flags indicating questionable municipal bond transactions.

Allianz will still own about 5% percent of the company, worth approximately $464 million.

For some Dow component stocks, the first three months of the year were forgettable. Here’s an interactive slide show featuring the 5 worst-performing Dow stocks so far this year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 64.94 points to close at 13,199.55 Tuesday as investors digested the release of minutes from the Fed’s latest policy-setting meeting in March.

Milwaukee, Wisc.-based CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors has teamed up with Academy Asset Management, a Philadelphia, Pa.-based investment advisor to launch Innovator Management LLC, purveyor of the Innovator Matrix income Fund.

Independent mutual fund service provider Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC has hired Kirk Littleton as director of business development to help the company double its business within the next seven years.