Mutual funds

Oppenheimer Funds and Putnam Investments have won top honors in the 11th annual NOVA Awards for innovation in the investment management industry.

There have been 16 straight weeks of outflows from muni bond funds, to the tune of $26.4 billion, and industry watchers do not expect flows to bounce back anytime soon.

Investcorp's U.S.-based Hedge Fund business announced that Elena Ranguelova has come on board as Head of Credit and Equity Strategies.

We often hear of the gender gap in politics, with women identifying more as Democrats. On public policy issues, women are more likely than men to favor an activist role for government in guaranteeing health care and basic social services while also being more supportive of gun control, same-sex marriage and legalized abortion.

Anti-money laundering policies were identified by both FINRA and the SEC as a top priority for examinations of broker-dealers in 2013. In its exam guidance, FINRA noted "an increase in foreign currency conversion transactions." It also stressed that there are no exemptions from the AML requirement for member firms, even if the company holds no customer funds.

(Bloomberg) – The largest developing nations for the first time have the worst market opportunities as optimism for stronger growth shifts to the U.S. and Europe, according to a Bloomberg Global Poll.

The 2008 and 2009 global financial crisis left many investors disappointed with the high volatility and negative performance of their portfolios and leading them to re-evaluate the risk reducing ability of asset allocation.

Options have been used in asset management for several decades, but due to current market conditions asset managers' interest has been renewed in this strategy. With bonds in a bear market and an equity market meandering horizontally, these managers are embracing options as a way to generate income while protecting against the downside.

FINRA’s Board of Governors will finally consider its controversial plan to require transitioning advisors to disclose recruitment incentives.

(Bloomberg) – A Morgan Stanley employee identifying himself as a credit audit specialist sued the bank over claims he suffered retaliation after he discussed the growing number of high-risk loans in its portfolio.

Operating in an environment where we are all expected to do more with less, asset managers increasingly rely on service providers. By constantly reinvesting in their businesses and infrastructure, established providers can easily scale and position asset managers for the future.

Building a successful fund requires a distinguishable brand, an effective marketing strategy, and a commitment to distribution support.

Loomis, Sayles & Company announced that Peter Marber has joined the company as head of emerging markets investments.

(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley, which is set to receive another $57 billion of deposits from Citigroup Inc. as part of its Smith Barney purchase, plans to accelerate lending to put those funds to use.

Laif Meidell is president of American Wealth Management and a FINRA registered representative with Foothill Securities, a hybrid Reno, Nev.-based RIA firm.

Bank of America has expanded its suite of investing tools for its mass-affluent do-it-yourself customers.

g) – Emerging markets offer good long- term buying opportunities as economies globally improve, Robert Kapito, co-founder and president of BlackRock Inc., said. There is too much short-term thinking in investing and foreign investors should be diversified in order to survive this period of market volatility, Kapito said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Susan Li.

Calamos Investments, a global investment management firm, announced the planned departure of James Boyne, President and Chief Operating Officer, effective September 30, 2013. Until that time, Boyne will act in an advisory role and assist the company in the orderly transition of his duties and responsibilities.

While equity mutual fund investors headed for the doors in droves after getting pummeled during the Great Recession, many 401(k) participants and mutual fund investors have continued to add to their asset allocation funds, which include target-risk, target-date and other mixed-asset funds.

A new study by retirement and investment trends research firm Hearts & Wallets, LLC found that more retirement firms are considering the lifetime value of consumers--currently 55%, up from 43% in 2010--showing an increased focus on younger investors.