Investments

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.

The Investment Company Institute has promoted Kathleen Joaquin to the position of Chief Industry Operations Officer, replacing 25-year veteran Donald Boteler, who retired earlier in the month.

Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Mary L. Schapiro told a financial services subcommittee of the House of Representatives that the federal regulator intends to spend $100 million of its $1.6 billion requested budget for fiscal 2013 on information systems and another $50 million on modernizing the EDGAR stock information database and www.sec.gov, its public web site.

Huntington Asset Services, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, has appointed Joseph Rezabek as president of the company. Rezabek hails from Citi Fund Services, where he was managing director and head of North American Fund Services.

The expiration of payroll tax reductions — and the possibility that nothing will be resolved in Washington this year around these and other fiscal issues — could be a drag on growth, says Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist for Janney Montgomery Scott.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has proposed rule changes and interpretive guidance aimed at ensuring that underwriters and dealers comply with an issuer’s instructions to sell bonds to retail investors during retail order periods.

Seoul, Korea-based Mirae Asset Global Investments unveiled its Global Dynamic Bond Fund, which will bet on sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate bonds from issuers in both emerging and developed markets, for U.S. investors.

Matrix Financial Solutions has expanded the functionality of TrueOpen, its core mutual fund trading platform, to address growing demands from retirement plan providers and advisors.

Morningstar, Inc. has launched a new alternative investments center as part of several enhancements to MorningstarAdvisor.com, a free website that provides advisors with practice management information, investment trends, and industry insights.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 203.66 points to close at 12,759.15 Tuesday, resulting in the largest one-day decline in this calendar year.

Symetra Investment Services, Inc., the broker-dealer registered investment advisor arm of Symetra Financial Corporation, has hired John Forrest to serve as director of business development, responsible for managing relationships, development advisors and managing sales.