Investments

Touchstone Investments has launched the Touchstone Merger Arbitrage Fund, which will seek to achieve positive returns over the long-term, regardless of market conditions, by investing in companies involved in publicly announced mergers or other corporate reorganizations.

Columbia Management has launched the Columbia Acorn Emerging Markets Fund and the Columbia Acorn European Fund, each of which will invest in companies with market caps of less than $5 billion.

The Dow Jones Industrial average lopped off 171 points to finish at 11,149.82 while the Nasdaq composite fell 48 points, or 2%, to close at 2,149.16.

S&P equity research analysts say iconic founder Steve Jobs' resignation from an active management role at Apple isn't dissuading them from recommending the company's shares, but investors may still want to at least check their portfolios to see just how many Apple shares they actually own.

Columbia Management has launched the Columbia Acorn Emerging Markets Fund and the Columbia Acorn European Fund, each of which will invest in companies with market caps of less than $5 billion.

U.S. investors may be overly worried about the fate of the euro, and overly confident in the U.S. dollar.

Two-thirds of donors are cutting back on their charitable giving due to economic worries, a survey by non-profit consulting firm Dunham+Company found. Another 10% plan to cut back entirely until the economy gets back on track.

Slightly more than $1 billion flowed back into mutual funds that invest in U.S. stocks long-term, in the week ended Aug. 17.

Investors pushed stocks higher in afternoon trading Wednesday, propelling the Dow Jones Industrial average up 144 points, or 1.3%, to close at 11.320.71. Gold, meanwhile, lost some of its luster, shedding 5.6% of its value to close at $1,757.30, its largest one-day decline in more than three years.

Annuities sold at a brisk pace in the second quarter, setting the stage for a record year of sales, according to the Insured Retirement Institute.

U.S. investors may be overly worried about the fate of the euro, and overly confident in the U.S. dollar, according to Kieran Osborne, co-portfolio manager of Palo Alto, Calif.-based Merk Funds.

Two weeks ago, Apple Computer had its day in the sun, briefly surpassing Exxon Mobil in market capitalization to become the largest corporation in the world. Now it’s gold’s turn.

Moody’s downgrade of Japanese debt Wednesday was bad news for the country, but it could present a stock buying opportunity, according to Adam Patti, CEO of IndexIQ.

Investors have mostly been focused on fast-growing companies that may not be of the highest intrinsic value, but now it’s quality dividend payers’ turn.

In an effort to expand its annuity business, The Hartford is expanding into the structured settlement annuity market, providing tax-free payouts to people who receive settlements related to a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim.

While broker-dealers are placing increasing importance on home office model portfolios, the recent extreme market volatility has made many financial advisors and brokers skeptical of such asset allocation, a report from kasina finds.

A new report just released by Moody’s Capital Markets Research Group says that the recent volatility of equities markets in the U.S. -- along with other dreary economic news -- is having an unmistakably negative impact on the nation’s economy.

Bargain hunters got back into the mix Tuesday, snapping up shares across all sectors as the Dow Jones Industrial average stormed up 322 points, or 3%, for the day.

A new report just released by Moody’s Capital Markets Research Group says that the recent volatility of equities markets in the U.S. -- along with other dreary economic news -- is having an unmistakably negative impact on the nation’s economy.

As the cost of college soars and many state institutions are charging as much as $36,000 a year for out-of-state students and private college costs approaching more than $50,000 a year, the percent of total costs families say they are able to cover themselves has fallen. Yet most advisors aren't recommending 529 college savings plans to their clients.