Investments

The difference between non-traded and private REITs depends on the real estate objective. Private REITs are Regulation D private placement offerings, which do not require a public registration filing. The shares can only be purchased by accredited investors and typically offer the potential for larger overall returns.

Matthews International Capital Management has launched the Matthews China Small Companies Fund.

Some financial planners take a strategic approach to REITs while others use them tactically, with some seeking the best of both worlds

A vast majority, 86%, of the 800 institutional investors and corporate executives surveyed for BNY Mellon believe there are significant opportunities for stock market growth. However, 58% think there are major downside risks preventing them from taking advantage of those opportunities, the survey, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, found.

Long-term municipal bond issuance is half of what it was a year ago, with volume down 51% through the end of May versus the same time last year.

FINRA complaint alleges New York-based firm failed to properly vet non-traded REIT and posted misleading returns on its corporate website.

Structured CDs seemed to come out of nowhere. But they quickly became, arguably, the hottest products in the bank channel.

Investors should be keenly aware of the major factors that can diminish long-term returns.

Are exchange-traded funds part of the equation for a truly diversified portfolio?

Annuity products, both fixed and variable, had a good run in the bank channel during the first quarter of 2011.

When it comes to saving for retirement, most Americans have a distorted and potentially disastrous view of just how well they're doing relative to their parents and grandparents.

State Street's Investor Confidence Index rose to its highest level since December, a sign that more investors are willing to move off the sidelines to capitalize on the market's recent strength.

The State Street Investor Confidence Index rose 6.8 point in May to 104.1, its highest reading since December. The increase was led by North American investors, among whom confidence rose 7.7 points to 106.3 from 98.6 in April. European investor confidence rose 5.2 points to 79.0 from 73.8. However, Asian investor confidence fell 2.7 points to 96.7 from 99.4.

John Hancock Funds has launched the John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund, a closed-end fund that had its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. This is Hancock’s tenth closed-end fund. Wellington Management is the subadvisor.

The District of Columbia’s budget vote last Wednesday jolted local municipal bond investors who could see their taxes jump on Oct. 1 as a result of a provision to tax the interest earnings from munis issued outside the district.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the first toll road agency of its kind in Texas, is looking for yield-hungry investors willing to take a risk on $374 million of revenue bonds at or below investment grade next week.

Barclays expects Greece will be propped up for another year. Raymond James' Jeffrey Saut likes technology stocks. Vanguard is still bullish on money markets. S&P looks for funds holding consumer staples stocks that might do better in a U.S. stock market downturn.

Although the unemployment rate in the U.S. is 9%, three-quarters of broker-dealers and registered investment advisors plan to hire in the next 12 months, and they plan to boost their staff by an average of 30%, Fidelity Investments found in a survey.

FINRA has ordered Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch to pay up after providing faulty data and supervision of residential subprime mortgage securitizations.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to -48.2 in the week ended May 22, up from a nine-month low of -49.4 the previous week. Readings of -40 or less are associated with recessions and their aftermaths, Bloomberg said.