Mutual funds

The key to being quoted accurately - and more often - can be summed up in two words: sound bites. Developing the ability to speak and write in sound bites is essential.

The key to being quoted accurately - and more often - can be summed up in two words: sound bites. Developing the ability to speak and write in sound bites is essential.

Investors poured $102.8 billion into exchange-traded funds run by BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, as they made record use of the fastest-growing product in the money management industry.

In 2015, much of the industry's growth outlook will depend on how competition fares between the cascade of funds entering the market, currency hedging and smart beta trends, and the momentum new non-transparent ETFs can gain with investors and offerings.

Pacific Investment Management Co.’s biggest mutual fund had the worst year of client withdrawals in the history of fund management as the firm lost both of its co-chief investment officers, Bill Gross and Mohamed El-Erian. Investors pulled $19.4 billion from Pimco Total Return Fund in December, bringing redemptions in 2014 to a record $105 billion.

Pimco's biggest mutual fund had the worst year of client withdrawals in the history of fund management as the firm lost both of its co-chief investment officers, Bill Gross and Mohamed El-Erian.

The $162.8 billion Pimco Total Return Fund returned 4.7 percent in 2014, trailing 53% of comparable funds, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In 2013, it lost 1.9%, lagging behind 65% of peers.

In an effort to groom their top talent, some of the industry's biggest financial firms are offering training on how to look and sound like a powerful executive. But how do you tell Ivy League MBAs they need to work on their image?

Morgan Stanley is in talks with the U.S. to resolve an investigation into the bank’s creation and sale of mortgage-backed bonds, the latest in a string of Wall Street cases tied to the 2008 financial crisis, a person familiar with the matter said.

States and local governments boosted debt sales to $43.7 billion so far in December, the highest monthly total in at least a year.

A comparison of 'decision rules' with rebalancing suggests that advisors may not be giving one simple strategy the credit it deserves.

A big jump in clients’ risk appetite is why the Retirement Advisor Confidence Index climbed 2.3 points in December, reaching a five-month high of 54.

The SPDR Nuveen Barclays Build America Bond ETF proved the best choice during a record-setting year for muni exchange- traded funds. Its 20.6 % gain through Dec. 23 was highest among the 26 muni ETFs tracked by Bloomberg.

Mutual conversions soared this year as mutual thrift executives sought to raise capital at the behest of investment bankers and others. With many of the biggest mutuals having converted this year, there may be a drop-off in conversions in 2015.

Municipals delivered solid performance overall thanks to the strength of the long duration and high-yield segments.

Investors in the world’s biggest ETP backed by bullion sold the most gold in 18 months as the U.S. economic recovery cut demand for a haven.

Municipals delivered solid performance overall thanks to the strength of the long duration and high-yield segments.

The ETF industry in the U.S. has finally broken through the $2 trillion milestone, demonstrating the product’s surge in popularity with investors. Through December 22nd, assets have increased 18% in 2014 from $1.698 trillion to $2.007 trillion based on positive market performance and net new assets.

The pursuit of yield has driven both advisors and investors toward newer, more complex ETFs and closed-end funds — products that use leverage, employ derivatives, deal in options and futures, sell short and so on. When such funds are held in clients’ IRAs they can generate additional problems for advisors, creating tax headaches and raising questions about investor suitability.

When it comes to the ability of the U.S. government to finance itself in the bond market, this year will go down as as one of the best on record -- and dealers say 2015 will be no different.