Investments

Among large-cap indexes, the Dow Jones Industrial average was the top performer in a decidedly bad month for equities, but still shed 4.36% of its total value in August.

Even though the stock market has been extraordinarily volatile over the past month, most investors are not changing their allocations to stocks and bonds, according to the RCB Consumer Outlook Index.

Janus has launched the Janus Aspen Moderate Allocation Portfolio, specifically designed for the insurance channel. The portfolio is a fund-of-funds that will invest in other Janus products with a target of 60% of its underlying holdings in stocks and 40% in fixed income.

PIMCO has launched the PIMCO Credit Absolute Return Fund, a go-anywhere type of fixed income fund that will employ some hedging strategies, including shorting and credit default swap derivatives, and be managed by Mark Kiesel.

IBM agreed to acquire risk analytics firm Algorithmics for an estimated $387 million. Its risk analytics software, content and advisory services are used by banking, investment and insurance businesses to help assess risk, address regulatory requirements and assist decision-making.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking public comment on the use of derivatives by mutual funds over the next 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. If it determines that new regulations to protect investors are necessary, the SEC will consider passing and enforcing them.

Local revenues are on the rise—the first quarter of 2011 market the sixth consecutive period in which state and city revenues have increased.

As actively managed funds lose their luster, the mutual fund industry is working to capitalize on new trends.

The firm has embarked on an aggressive strategy to double the assets in its managed account group over the next five years and these two men are leading the way.

Yields on money market funds have eroded since 2007, but the worst days may be over.

The precious metal plays the role of insurance: There when you need it and quiet when you don't.

A bad day for financial engineers in Chicago continued Wednesday, when the Securities and Exchange Commission said the assets of a quantitative trading firm were frozen.

Over the next five business days through Sept. 6, the Dow Jones Golden Crossover Large-Cap Total Stock Market Index will decrease its equity allocation from 100% to 25%, moving that 75% allocation into the cash equivalent of short-term U.S. Treasury bills.

Fears of another recession could prompt corporate Treasurers and lenders to withhold financing, which in and of itself could raise the probability of less liquidity and further economic weakening.

BNY Mellon Asset Management tapped Christopher Sheldon as its new chief investment officer of The Dreyfus Corporation, the New York-based asset management and distribution firm overseeing more than $400 billion in mutual funds and separately managed accounts.

A closely watched index established by Dow Jones Indexes back in November 2010 began flashing red on Tuesday, a development that now has investors and their advisors reviewing the back-tested index’s history for signs of what’s to come and what investment strategies they should pursue next.

A trio of finance professors are blasting the big three rating agencies, Moody’s in particular, claiming in a new report that they've unearthed evidence that asset classes that provide the agencies with most of their revenue benefit from better credit ratings while classes that provide less revenue receive harsher treatment.

It was not long ago that the term alternative investments prompted images of exotic venture capital, private equity and hedge fund investment strategies frequented almost exclusively by very wealthy households and institutional investors.

The assets held in mutual funds fell $219.2 billion in July -- before the announcement that Standard & Poor’s had cut its rating of U.S. debt for the first time ever.

Despite all the doomsday prognostications, 2011 will likely have fewer muni fund defaults than either 2009 or 2010. So why are advisors and investors still so gun-shy?