Investments

Eleven of these additions are also being made to the Russell 2000 Index. Fifteen of the IPOs are also becoming part of the Russell ex-U.S. Index—12 of which are in Asia-Pacific, eight in emerging markets and four becoming part of the Russell Greater China Index.

Russell Global Index is absorbing 31 initial public offerings for the fourth quarter, effective Monday, Dec. 19.

William Blair Funds has introduced the William Blair Small-Mid Cap Value Fund, aimed at delivering long-term capital appreciation and portfolio diversification by taking moderate risk.

The $241 billion PIMCO Total Return, which has underperformed its peers over the past year—returning 3.48% year to date—has been hit with $17 billion in outflows, Morningstar data shows. By comparison, taxable bond funds, which are up 5.87% YTD, took in $105.8 billion in inflows over the past 12 months.

Invesco has launched the Invesco Premium Income Fund, aimed at investors looking for current income streams, the investment management firm announced. The strategy is designed “to provide protection during periods of economic stress” while still meeting income goals, the firm said in a statement.

Investors pushed stocks higher for the first time this week Thursday after an initial jobless claims report checked in at a three-and-a-half week low and the Philadelphia’s Fed’s Business Outlook for December came in with a 10.3 reading – dramatically higher than the 4 score most economists had predicted.

Advisors agree almost unanimously that volatility will be a force to reckon with in the next two years, but 38% are not using managed volatility strategies in client portfolios, according to an SEI poll of 200 financial advisors.

On the heels of reports coming out of Washington on the government’s scramble to protect the country’s power grid from cybercriminals, CSC reports the launch of an Insurance Cybersecurity Advisory Council for life insurance and annuity providers and property/casualty insurers.

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According to the latest statistics from the Investment Company Institute, an estimated $5.76 billion left domestic equity mutual funds the week ended Dec. 7, continuing a long streak of net investor redemptions. Since May 1, investors have been pulled nearly $135 billion from U.S. stock funds.

Stocks recorded losses for a third day in row Wednesday as commodity and energy stocks fell amid persistent concerns that European banking officials aren’t doing enough to safeguard the region – and the rest of the world – from a more severe economic downturn.

The U.S. economy, while still vulnerable, has shown encouraging signs of progress over the last few months, according to a report released by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank.

The U.S. economy, while still vulnerable, has shown encouraging signs of progress over the last few months, according to a report released Wednesday by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank.

Despite the historic equity market decline of 2008-2009, most 401(k) participants earned positive investment returns in the five-year period ended 2010, according to Vanguard. In fact, the average return was 3.76% a year, not including the impact of continued contributions.

Equities and commodities are likely to perform better in 2012 than they did in 2011, according to Jack Malvey, chief global market strategist for BNY Mellon Asset Management.

One of the biggest topics on the minds of financial services executives in 2011 has been volatility, with a slew of articles and TV news stories pinning the blame on high-frequency trading, hedge funds and leveraged ETFs.

One of the biggest topics on the minds of financial services executives in 2011 has been volatility, with a slew of articles and TV news stories pinning the blame on high-frequency trading, hedge funds and leveraged ETFs.

TIAA-CREF has launched the TIAA-CREF Global Natural Resources Fund, aimed at providing investors with diversification, a hedge against inflation and an opportunity to participate in the growing demand for resources among the world’s seven billion population.

Goldman Sachs' asset management division has agreed to purchase the mutual fund division of Dividend Growth Advisors, in a push to offer more income-generating funds.

For the second straight year, MetLife leads life insurers in annuity considerations through the first three quarters, ended Sept. 30, 2011. Prudential Financial and Jackson National Life Group round out the top three in the rankings released by SNL.