Investments

The only software that really has intrinsic value is the software that can predict returns on mutual funds, exchange-traded funds or single stocks.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association has upped the ante in its dispute with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board over the self-regulator’s proposal to nearly double the fees it collects from dealers, warning that the MSRB must do a better job of explaining the need for the increase.

Currently wirehouse market share is at 56% of total fee-based managed account assets, but Cerulli Associates predicts that managed account market share for wirehouses will tumble to 50% by 2014.

ETF Securities’ ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares (WITE) began trading on the NYSE Arca Friday.

The municipal bond underwriter and brokerage house hope the tandem will generate broader appeal for investors.

The global economy is in the middle of a scary macroeconomic environment, with fiscal imbalances in Europe, Japan and the U.S. and increased regulation, which is confusing companies as well as individuals, according to T. Rowe Price’s director of global equity.

American Funds insists they were years in the making. Others see them as a tactic to stem outflows.

Registered investment advisors became slightly more optimistic about the economy in November, as measured by Rydex/SGI’s Advsor Confidence Index.

It may be too late to capture the sector's rebound, but these real estate vehicles still offer an uncorrelated combination of income and appreciation.

Some mutual fund industry analysts are questioning the timing of three new bond funds from American Funds, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Most variable annuity buyers pay extra for guaranteed living benefit riders despite weaker features and higher costs.

James Hertz, a former vice president and marketer in JPMorgan’s municipal derivatives group, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three criminal counts for engaging in bid-rigging and fraud conspiracies connected with guaranteed investment contracts and other municipal finance agreements, the Justice Department announced.

According to a Schwab survey, active traders are more optimistic than they were six months ago, but few think they’ve done enough to protect their portfolios.

Equity funds finally stem the bleeding after months of outflows, ICI finds.

The wealth management center features commentary on a variety of financial planning subjects, including information on taxes, planning for retirement and other wealth-related strategies, and a range of investment and wealth management information, planning ideas and tools.

Sponsors would have to disclose a fund’s asset allocation and how that changes over time.

Reductions of 18% to 54% bring total expense caps to 40 basis points to 1.10%.

Issuers in four states have ­accounted for nearly half of the $164 billion of Build America Bonds issued since the ­program’s inception 19 months ago. Municipal market participants say the lopsided ­distribution should be a consideration for investors, but for others the unbalance has limited value in measuring the program’s success.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch introduced a gauge of risk, hedging demand and investment flows, the bank and brokerage firm said, "is designed to help investors identify market risks earlier and more accurately than commonly used risk indicators," such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index, or VIX.

The stock market is on a roll, according to TD Waterhouse’s 2011 Investment Outlook.