Mutual funds

Morningstar estimates that the top 25 mutual fund companies took in $12.4 billion in net inflows in the first quarter, with the research firm’s Director of Personal Finance Christine Benz telling Reuters, “I would imagine that the worst is over for a lot of these firms. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that’s worse than the fourth quarter was.”

Waddell & Reed reported first quarter profits of $15.5 million, down 45.2% from $28.3 million in the first quarter of 2008.

Thirty-six percent of financial advisers are less confident than they were a year about in their ability to manage reitrees’ assets—with most blaming the complexity of retirement income portfolios needing to both generate growth while guaranteeing income, GDC Research and Practical Perspectives found through a survey.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently investigating 50 cases of credit-default swaps and 150 hedge funds, Chairman Mary Schapiro told the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. The investigations are in line with objectives of the Obama Administration to overhaul financial regulations.

ProFunds Group has hired Richard Kendrick as managing director, marketing, in charge of all marketing for the company’s exchange-traded funds and mutual funds. He comes to the firm from RiverSource Investments, where he was vice president, asset management marketing.

According to a survey by the IBM Institute for Business Value, 90% of financial markets executives and government officials believe the returns of the past are over, primarily due to radical restructuring of the financial markets.

Recognizing the need for asset management executives to receive timely insights from financial intermediaries on changing investor tastes, kasina and Horsesmouth have launched Advisor Vision. Through surveys conducted among Horsesmouth's 70,000 members that kasina designs and analyzes, the service provides insight into advisers' behaviors, preferences for working with asset managers and opinions on specific firms and investment choices.

Putnam to Double 401(k) Wholesalers to 10

There has been some talk that the government bailouts and industry intervention are leading America toward socialism. Whether or not that shocking and unsettling claim turns out to be true, the government will undoubtedly take greater control of the financial services industry, and that will stifle innovation, risk, growth-and wealth.

Energy Mandates Provide Major Opportunities: Calvert

The House Education & Labor Committee last week proposed new rules for 401(k) disclosure that will give investors greater transparency into the fees they are paying, but some 401(k) advocates say the new rules are too aggressive and unnecessary.

The 19th Century London financier Nathan Rothschild is credited with having said, "The time to buy is when blood is running in the streets."

NEW YORK - After suffering deep losses in their retirement savings accounts, most Americans appear to be in a state of shock, unsure where to move next.

Morningstar is acquiring the equity research and data business of Computerized Portfolio Management Services of Toronto for C$16.1 million. The companies expect to complete the sale in the second quarter.

While Denver-based Janus Capital Group said its net profit for the first quarter fell 93%, its outflows have stabilized and executives remain optimistic that the company is in a good position for a future economic recovery.

Total assets in money market mutual funds fell for the third straight week, dropping $11.34 billion to $3.806 trillion for the week ending April 22, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Federated Investors reported first quarter profits of $35.1 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, down 37% from $35.1 million, or 54 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008.

Fidelity Investments has promoted Brian B. Hogan to president of the equity division of Fidelity Management & Research Co., the investment advisor to the firm’s mutual funds. A 15-year veteran of Fidelity, Hogan most recently was senior vice president of equity research.

TD Asset Management has launched the TD AM Global Sustainability Fund, which is available only to institutional investors.

The “Sixty Minutes” segment on 401(k)s that slammed them as being mediocre offerings with hidden fees is not the only shot being taken at the defined contribution model—not by a long shot.