Investments

Assets held in hedge funds increased in 2009, but it was a small victory in the grand scheme of things for an industry that is losing top talent and had more funds continue to liquidate last year.

The recession has sent even the wealthiest Americans running for cover, as affluent investors worry about their financial security.

Grail Advisors, a provider of actively managed exchange-traded funds, has recruited Gary Black, the former chief executive officer of Janus, to serve as a director on its advisory board.

ETF Securities has launched two exchange-traded funds that are the first to be physically backed by platinum and palladium. The company already offers ETFs backed by gold and silver.

Klopp joins as head of Americas real estate investing and global real estate debt investing

The raging bull market of the last 12 months will continue throughout 2010 but at a slower, steadier pace, giving investors reason to draw back slightly on risk, according to BlackRock’s Bob Doll, the vice chairman and global chief investment officer of fundamental equities and Curtis Arledge, managing director and co-head of U.S. fixed income portfolio management group, in their forecast for the first quarter.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed five individuals to specialize in various areas of investigation and has also created an Office of Market Intelligence to compile the hundreds of thousands of tips, complaints and referrals that the SEC receives each year.

ETF Securities has launched two exchange-traded funds that are the first to be physically backed by platinum and palladium. The company already offers ETFs backed by gold and silver.

Grail Advisors, a provider of actively managed exchange-traded funds, has recruited Gary Black, the former chief executive officer of Janus, to serve as a director on its advisory board.

Institutional investors remain optimistic that the global economy and the interest rate-ridden housing market will help create “stability” and growth in the New Year, a Northern Trust Global Advisors (NTGA) survey found.

Global growth last year: a massive 45.2%

Bank life insurance sales growth has far exceeded overall industry growth for the second quarter in a row.

In an effort to capitalize on what some have dubbed “the Year of the Roth,” Huntington Bancshares’ wealth management arm is planning a direct-mailing campaign for a targeted group of customers.

Basing the awards on superior risk-adjusted results and shareholder stewardship, Morningstar has named its Fund Managers of the Decade, bestowing the honors on PIMCO’s Bill Gross, Fairholme’s Bruce Berkowitz and Oakmark’s David Herro, respectively, for fixed income, domestic equity and international equity.

Among the many metamorphoses the advent of taxable Build America Bonds was anticipated to induce in the tax-exempt municipal bond market, one of the most important was the flattening of the yield curve. It has not happened yet.

The funds span a wide range of asset classes and sectors, including equity, fixed income, real estate and specialty securities.

The ongoing impact of the financial crisis, coupled with the specter of greater governmental oversight, will color the outlook for the life insurance industry in the year ahead, according to New York-based Ernst & Young’s Global Insurance Center 2010 U.S. Outlook.

Sponsors of 401(k) plans are determined to get their plans back on track in 2010 to avoid future market pitfalls, starting by taking a hard look at investment offerings and fees, Callan Associates found in its 2010 Defined Contribution Trends Survey.

As wealthy customers have started to reevaluate their financial situations, financial advisers at PNC Wealth Management have increased and improved their conversations with wealthy clients in an effort to retain and expand relationships.

Investors will continue to reallocate cash into the markets.