Mutual funds

Multi-manager shop Virtus Investment Partners has added Rampart Investment Management, which specializes in customized options strategies for institutional and high-net-worth clients, as a wholly owned affiliate of Virtus.

The Hartford today is taking another step towards focusing on its mutual fund business by agreeing to sell its retirement plans business to rival Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) for a cash ceding commission of $400 million.

Eaton Vance Management has launched four new Eaton Vance-sponsored mutual funds sub-advised by Hexavest Inc., a Montreal-based investment manager in which Eaton Vance recently acquired a 49% ownership interest.

Does religion play a key part in the way investors and managers place bets on their mutual funds?

Boston Trust Investment Management has selected BHIL Distributors, Inc., the affiliated broker-dealer of Beacon Hill Fund Services, to provide principal underwriter and distribution services to The Boston Trust & Walden Funds.

William "Bill" Scriba, a former T. Rowe Price treasurer and vice president, died on Aug. 28 at his residence in an assisted-living community in Sunnyvale, Calif., of undetermined causes, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Who would've thunk it?

Vincent Leon has joined 3D Asset Management as a National Sales Manager, responsible for overseeing the firm’s sales and marketing efforts to the wirehouse, RIA, retirement/DCIO and sub-advisory channels.

The ASTON/River Road Independent Value Fund is reopening to new investors starting Sept. 4.

European sovereign debt concerns and the U.S. debt-ceiling debacle spurred market volatility, pushing investors toward index-based equity funds.

Robert Shearer of BlackRock believes companies that pay dividends have discipline and staying power.

Crisis may be the new normal for investors, but it's also the stark reality of the communications landscape.

Can it possibly be? Technology stocks are paying the most dividends?

As investing in alternatives such as real estate, private equity funds, hedge fund strategies and commodities grow in popularity, the way these are being used by institutions and investment advisors is changing.

Who would've thunk it?

The ASTON/River Road Independent Value Fund is reopening to new investors starting Sept. 4.

The fee for three of the RiverFront Global Allocation Series mutual funds has been reduced by 0.15% and expenses are now capped at 0.90%.

Samson Capital Advisors is looking to beef up its portfolio with currencies from “strong” nations via its latest offering, the Samson STRONG Nations Currency Fund.

Stephen Barbaro, co-portfolio manager of the Columbia Small Cap Value Fund I, is retiring at the end of the year, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Alternative mutual fund shop Pyxis Funds has hired John Caron as a regional sales director responsible for wholesaling Pyxis (formerly Highland) mutual funds, closed-end funds and alternative investments throughout New England.