Mutual funds

Asset Management firm Van Eck Global recently launched its Market Vectors-Gulf States Index ETF on the NYSE Arca.

Several struggling banks desperate for capital are now considering selling their money-management units, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Despite difficult market conditions, Americans continued to save more for retirement last year, according to the Investment Company Institute.

State Street Global Advisors, the Boston investment management arm of State Street Corp., has launched 10 international sector exchange-traded funds.

In his last public appearance as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commissioner Paul Atkins said that, with regards to shareholder rights, the agency “would be wise to continue to respect the principles of federalism and avoid the temptation to exceed the limitations on its authority delegated by the Congress.”

According to the data in the Northern Trust Universe, the majority of U.S. institutional investors posted negative returns for the quarter ending June 30 - the third negative quarter in a row for participating plans in the study.

eSecLending, an administrator and provider of customized securities lending programs, recently announced its creation of Securities Financial Global Advisors (SFGA), a registered investment advisor (RIA), to further carry securities lending for mutual fund cash collateral in the U.S.

After AARP pared down its more than 33 funds at one point during its 21-year relationship with Scudder Investments to a mere five in 2005, sub-advised by State Street Global Advisors, the new chief of its funds unit now wants to expand those offerings, with a new focus on retirement income.

IndexIQ has launched a mutual fund-of-fund that will mimic hedging strategies, invest in exchange-traded funds and leverage up to 100% of its assets.

Jitters over market turmoil appears to be good business for financial advisers and brokers or individuals placing individual trades, and that, in turn, is good new for companies such as Fidelity Investments, whose brokerage division saw assets rise in the second quarter by 2% to $1.92 trillion.

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. urged Congress to finish legislation that would create a regulator for government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and financially shore up the two mortgage financing giants.

Barclays is planning to launch a family of target-date and target-risk exchange-traded funds, drawing from its existing iShares, Dow Jones reports. The percentage of equity holdings will range from 91% to 58%.

President and CEO of Federated Investors, J. Christopher Donahue, recently announced Federated's acquisition of the Prudent Bear and Prudent Global Income Funds from David W. Tice & Associates at an initial price of $43 million with future contingent payments over the next four years of up to $100 million. These funds have an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion and $502 million, respectively. Federated has begun formulating contracts with current managers of the two funds, including Doug Noland and Patrick Ryan Bend. David W. Tice, will follow these funds to Federated, where he will become the chief portfolio strategist.

Ameriprise Financial finalized a $440 million deal to purchase J&W Seligman in the fourth quarter. The addition of Seligman will provide Ameriprise with additional outlets to sell its mutual funds and further improve its hedge fund business. "This transaction reinforces our growth strategy, and in particular our efforts to grow our higher-margin businesses," Chief Executive Officer James Cracchiolo said in a statement.

State Street Corp. believes market conditions will make it difficult for his Boston company to maintain its strong second-quarter growth, but he hopes to weather the second half by focusing on core businesses, cutting expenses and attracting new customers.

The European Union proposed a new set of rules Thursday to make Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) even more efficient by eliminating additional regulatory hurdles. Most notably, the rules- which will replace 10 directives with just one and go into effect in 2011-will allow cross-border mergers of funds, making Europe's mutual fund industry more efficient. They will also permit master-feeder structures and eliminate much of the administrative paperwork currently required to market funds to other markets in the European Union of 27 member states.

Callan Joins Credit Suisse As Head of Hedge Funds

The small group of money mangers who possess the ability to outperform the market has virtually disappeared, according to a new study, "False Discoveries in Mutual Fund Performance: Measuring Luck in Estimating Alphas," in which the researchers used a statistical test called the "False Discovery Rate" to measure money managers' capabilities in reading the market.

The growing popularity of fee-based advice is prompting mutual fund companies and other investment platform providers to upgrade the capabilities they offer advisers. Fidelity Investments is rolling out a product that allows registered investment advisors and broker/dealers to gain access to account information through a single entry point. National Planning Holdings, a broker/dealer network affiliated with Jackson National Life Insurance, is overhauling its fee-based platform as well.

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