Investments

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index surged 15.1 points in November to 56.0, up from 40.9.

NYSE Euronext, in partnership with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, is launching three "clean energy" stock indexes. The three indexes will be focused on performance of clean energy firms around the globe. The intent is to track public companies "most active in the world's historic shift to low-carbon energy."

"Frank's loss will be felt by generations of Goldman Sachs professionals," Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, said.

The State Street Investor Confidence Index rose 2 points in November to 97.2. In North America, the index rose 4.7 points to 95.2, and in Europe, it rose 5.4 points to 101.5. In Asia, however, the index fell 4.2 points to 94.6.

NYSE Euronext, in partnership with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, is launching three “clean energy” stock indexes. The three indexes will be focused on performance of clean energy firms around the globe. The intent is to track public companies “most active in the world's historic shift to low-carbon energy.’’

Instinet said it is giving its institutional customers the ability to electronically cast votes on which brokers provide the best research on possible investments.

Wealth accumulation is taking a back seat to another important investor goal: having guaranteed retirement income.

An industry group has asked regulators to disclose the factors they will use to determine which muni broker-dealers pose more risks and should undergo compliance examinations more often under a new proposed exam program.

Strategic Insight parent Asset International has completed its anticipated acquisition of certain FRC products and says it will make "significant investments to strengthen, enhance and expand acquired FRC products."

The asset management industry's agility following the financial crisis, particularly its ability to improve profitability, is masking long-term challenges to growth, according to McKinsey & Co.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange said trading in futures contracts has surged significantly since it launched a new trading platform for derivatives and extended trading hours.

Traders anticipate that the recent delicate balance between supply and demand in the muni market will be maintained even as issuance ramps up this week in the face of rollover funds.

Vanguard Group founder John C. Bogle said Wednesday that Republication presidential candidates’ pledge to not raise taxes as any part of a solution to the nation’s $1.2 trillion annual fiscal deficit “makes no sense.”

Investors seeking diversity, liquidity and competitive yields when compared to other fixed-income products are trying a relatively new alternative: municipal bond exchange-traded funds.

Investors' continuing obsession with purchasing Treasury bonds is a sign of 'irrational exuberance,' says the chairman of investment manager T. Rowe Price when 10-year yields are under 2.0%.

Investors’ continuing obsession with purchasing Treasury bonds is a sign of ‘irrational exuberance,’ says the chairman of investment manager T. Rowe Price when 10-year yields are under 2.0%.

Muni market participants say the rule in its current form could affect about half of municipal securities and reduce liquidity in the muni bond market. The Volcker Rule was part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that became law in 2010.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange Group and the Osaka Securities Exchange said they plan to merge. The two exchange operators said their combination will “establish an unchallenged position” in domestic stocks and derivatives trading, as well as “enhance global competitiveness” of their platforms.

Eight in 10 advisors who sell annuities report that they are having more client discussions about retirement income planning than they did five years ago. And those discussions are becoming more emotional, according to a new report, “The Evolution of the Annuity Industry," released by the Insured Retirement Institute and Cogent Research.

The volatility that has gripped the markets in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis has changed the investment management game forever.