Investments

U.S. investors added $9 billion more to ETFs than they withdrew in January, marking the fifth consecutive month of positive flows for the sector.

As the expiration of the Build America Bond program loomed last year, the market was wracked with uncertainty about just who was going to buy long-term tax-exempt bonds. Thanks to the drought of new municipal bond issuance in 2011, the market is still wondering.

Retail investors in municipals are shaken, but still standing, after a relentless barrage of negative media hype surrounding forecasts for massive municipal bankruptcies and defaults later this year.

Consumer Reports said that its Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index rose for the third straight month in a row, to 58.7. The index was 54.2 last month and 53.4 in February 2010.

In December, fixed annuity production was relatively stable but variable sales continued on their upward trajectory, recording increases each month in the fourth quarter, according to the Kehrer-Jackson Monthly Bank Annuity Sales Survey.

Forward Funds has launched the Forward Commodity Long/Short Strategy Fund, which aims to profit from both up and down movements of commodity prices.

Retail investors in municipals are shaken, but still ­standing, after a relentless barrage of ­negative media hype surrounding forecasts for massive municipal ­bankruptcies and defaults later this year.

The recent media firestorm over state and local government finances has resulted in heightened efforts by those in the municipal bond industry to educate jittery investors and enhance disclosure in the nearly $3 trillion market.

If interest rates can only go up from here, shouldn’t you minimize your exposure to bonds? Not according to Zane Brown, a fixed-income strategist from Lord Abbott who addressed a crowd of advisors at the IMCA New York Consultants Conference.

The funds include a market neutral, medical sciences and large-cap offering.

This is the firm’s first mutual fund.

An innovative do-it-yourself investment platform is looking to broaden its business by providing high-net-worth-style service to investors who have as little as $50,000.

361° Capital has launched the 361° Absolute Alpha Fund, its first mutual fund.

Turner Funds on Monday debuted three new long/short mutual funds, the Turner Market Neutral, Turner Medical Sciences and Turner Titan funds.

Nearly two-thirds, 62%, of investors have changed their approach to investing following the recession, TD Ameritrade found in a survey. The most common changes were moving into fixed income, cited by 28%, and into mutual funds and managed accounts, cited by 23%.

An innovative do-it-yourself investment platform is looking to broaden its business by providing high-net-worth-style service to investors who have as little as $50,000.

Municipal bond mutual fund outflows continued to subside last week from recent record-setting levels as the cash most prone to panic appears to have left by now.

Five days before a House panel is set to hold a hearing — “State and Municipal Debt: the Coming Crisis?” — governors are insisting that municipal securities are among the safest investments and that states are keenly aware of the need to repay their obligations.

SAN DIEGO – After a difficult three years, advisers have a lot to be optimistic about.

Tax-exempt money market funds fell $2.34 billion to $324.39 billion in net assets in the week ended Jan. 31, according to the iMoneyNet's Money Fund Report.