Investments

NEW YORK—State Street Global Markets Wednesday unveiled seven new indexes designed to help institutional investors map out hidden market opportunities.

Buoyed by the strength of the long-term municipal market over the past 18 months, mutual fund assets have climbed to record levels, and portfolio managers have had little need to make major changes to their current investment strategies.

Initially, at least, the firm is staking out a niche in the secondary, rather than primary U.S. market. David Puritz, hired in March as U.S. head of convertible bonds, did just that in his former post at Deutsche Bank.

Buoyed by the strength of the long-term municipal market over the past 18 months, mutual fund assets have climbed to record levels, and portfolio managers have had little need to make major changes to their current investment strategies.

Investors being duped into pouring tens of millions of dollars into fake high-yield opportunities being touted all over the social mediascape.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is wrestling with how much it needs to increase its staff, technological capability, and funds to implement provisions of the new financial regulatory reform law that require it to make the most expansive changes since its creation in 1975.

The legislation by Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., would establish a regulatory framework for covered bonds, including a regime to handle the failure of a bond issuer.

As news "broke" Monday that BP [ BP ] CEO Tony "I want my life back" Haywood will step down in October, and news reports of the pervasive greed among the people in the Gulf Coast ... some questions are worth asking.

NEW YORK-Even as the residential housing and mortgage markets remain fragile, with housing starts and sales faltering-many money managers believe commercial real estate is headed for a worldwide boom.

Jersey-City based Knight will pay approximately $20 million in cash and stock for Astor when the acquisition is completed in the fourth quarter.

With gold seen as the place to be, BlackRock introduces its first gold mutual fund in the U.S., and shaves its gold ETF fees from 40 BPS to 25.

The trend for precise exchange-traded fund offerings resurfaces, as returns and yields compress.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Sander Levin plans next week to unveil new jobs legislation that would extend Build America Bonds and other muni bond initiatives that are set to expire at the end of the year.

Van Eck Global Friday launched the Market Vectors Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF, trading on NYSE Arca under the ticker EMLC. The fund closed at $25.45 for the day.

BlackRock is promoting its first U.S. gold mutual fund, the BlackRock World Gold Fund, aimed at both retail and institutional investors. The fund is managed by gold and natural resources specialists Evy Hambro and Catherine Row.

Even as Build America Bonds continue to transform municipal finance, one thing stays constant: hedging a portfolio of muni securities remains very difficult.

Why not invest in volatility? It’s not an asset or a sector, obviously, but you can still invest in it thanks to a small handful of ETNs and ETFs.

The Baltimore-based money manager reported that its profits increased to $158.5 million, or 59 cents per share, and net revenue rose 30.6% to $577.4 million.

Even as Build America Bonds continue to transform municipal finance, one thing stays constant: hedging a portfolio of muni securities remains very difficult.

NEWARK, N.J.--American corporations and households are tidying up their debt to get their financial house in order.