Investments

Exchange-traded fund sponsor WisdomTree has launched a corporate bond ETF covering emerging market issuers across Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

PIMCO’s All Asset All Authority institutional fund received a Gold rating this week from Morningstar Analyst Ratings. The PIMCO fund, managed by sub-advisor Rob Arnott of Research Affiliates, “had its many moving parts moving in sync in 2011,” according to a report by Morningstar analyst Kevin McDevitt.

J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services has hired Stephanie Miller as global head of the alternative investment services business. In this new role, Miller will oversee strategy and direction for the Private Equity & Real Estate Services and Hedge Fund Services at WSS.

NYSE Euronext said its trading in derivatives has plunged 21.4 percent in one year, worldwide and its trading in U.S. stocks is also down 21 percent. And its trading in NYSE listed stocks now is less than half of what it was in 2009, at the height of the credit crisis.

J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services has hired Stephanie Miller as Global Head of the Alternative Investment Services business.

PIMCO’s All Asset All Authority institutional fund received a Gold rating this week from Morningstar Analyst Ratings—the only fund to do so this week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied up 70.61 points to 12,907.94 Thursday on reports that Greece has all-but-resolved some of its lingering issues with private creditors to ensure the country avoids a disorderly default.

Exchange-traded fund sponsor WisdomTree has launched a corporate bond ETF covering emerging market issuers across Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Market volatility severely curtailed revenue growth among asset managers in 2011, while independent managers continued to outperform management subsidiaries, according to a study released by consulting firm Casey, Quirk & Associates LLC.

In the search for yield, mid-cap stocks are often overlooked as an option. But the companies often have more room to grow than large caps, and many are “appealing takeover candidates” to boot, says Esther Kwon, equity analyst with S&P Capital IQ.

imensional Fund Advisors has appointed Steve Clark, formerly head of portfolio management, as head of the North American Institutional group. He replaces Dave Schneider, who is retiring.

An analysis by Spectrem Group found that 41% of wealthy investors surveyed said they relied primarily on their own research and analysis, while another 40% said they relied primarily on a trusted financial advisor.

Associated Banc-Corp announced yesterday that it hired Tim Henke as an associate financial consultant at its wholly owned broker-dealer Associated Investment Services.

It's official: BlackRock, Inc. today says it has completed its acquisition of the Toronto-based Claymore Investments, Inc.

The new product attempts to capture the potential for higher returns and offset market volatility in clients’ portfolios.

Lighthouse Partners, a fund-of-hedge-funds and managed account investment adviser has taken a minority stake in 361 Capital, a Denver-based provider of alternative investment mutual funds, separate accounts and limited partnerships to institutions, financial intermediaries and high-net-worth investors.

Investors regained some of their swagger Wednesday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 78.18 points to 12,837.33 one day after recording its largest loss of the year.

Santa Fe, NM-based Thornburg Funds has promoted Rob McInerney, formerly a regional consultant, to the role of national sales manager, effective March 1. He will also assume the role of president of Thornburg Securities Corp., succeeding Jack Gardner in both positions.

Mutual funds started February with a roar but ended the month with a whimper.

361 Capital, a provider of alternative investment mutual funds, separate accounts, and limited partnerships to institutions, financial intermediaries, and high-net-worth investors, has entered into a strategic partnership with Lighthouse Partners, a fund-of-hedge-funds and managed account investment adviser.