Here are a couple relevant excerpts:
Complete Story »
Publicly Traded Airports: A Useful Benchmark?
Roger Nusbaum submits: Here's a new sub-sector - well, new to me, anyway: publicly traded airports.
I have spent the last few days trying to learn a little about some of
the publicly traded airports (many airports from foreign countries are
publicly traded companies).
Complete Story »
Northern Trust Continues Casting New NETS
IndexUniverse submits: By Heather Bell
On Monday, Northern Trust launched another three of its NETS (Northern
Trust Exchange-Traded Shares) products, bringing its total lineup to
nine exchange-traded funds. The newest funds are the:
Complete Story »
How Do International ETFs Compare with Their Countries' GDPs?
Recently I posted about how international ETFs' P/E ratios stand in relation to GDP. The most undervalued seemed to be the emerging markets of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China).
World
markets had turned negative in October and the current bear market
has already lasted six months. But the major fall happened at the beginning
of 2008. I ran my screen for ETFs to see the leaders and laggards
on YTD basis. Here you have the results:
Complete Story »
Three's Company: SSgA Launches Third Global REIT ETF
IndexUniverse submits: By Murray Coleman
The trend is clearly going global
in exchange-traded funds focusing on real estate investment trusts.
Complete Story »
A Visual Approach to Risk Adjusted Returns
Richard Shaw (QVM Group) submits: We believe it is important to look at return and volatility risk in
both absolute and relative terms. For relative performance, we think
the 10-year US Treasury bond is a good base to use, because is it
relevant to all asset classes.
It relates as well to stocks as to bonds, to real estate, to commodities or to just about any asset class.
Complete Story »
Currency ETFs: The Euro is 'So' Yesterday
Gary Gordon submits: I wrote extensively about investing in the Euro last year. In September 2007, I considered the CurrencyShares Euro (FXE) the "closest thing to a sure thing."
Yet smarter investors are not going to bet in favor of the euro and against the U.S. dollar for much longer. Consider the facts:
Complete Story »
What's the Best Way to Capture a Country?
Roger Nusbaum submits: A reader asked about the best way to capture a country for an investment portfolio.
Well,
sorry to disappoint but there can be no single best way. Depending on
the country, there could be a lot of funds, just one fund or no funds.
Complete Story »
New Cohen & Steers ETF Offers Screened Global Real Estate
IndexUniverse submits: By Matthew Hougan
On Friday, a new ETF provider made its debut, when the first fund from
ALPS Holdings Inc. - known mainly as a service provider to the
investment management industry - rolled out on the American Stock
Exchange. The Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF (GRI)
has an underlying index that covers 75 real estate companies from
developed markets in North America, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
Complete Story »
VIX to VXV Ratio Is Giving a Strong Bearish Signal
Bill Luby submits: I consider the VIX:VXV ratio to be an indicator in the making. Since the VXV
is only six months old it is still too early to give it the robust
indicator seal of approval, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay
attention to it.
Looking
at the chart below (click to enlarge), the only previous time the VIX:VXV ratio gave a
bearish signal comparable to the current one was just as the markets
were about to move down in dramatic fashion from late December to late
January.
Complete Story »
Mea Culpa (ETN Version)
David Merkel submits: One of the dangers of being a generalist is that you get spread too
thin. Another is that you overplay your abilities. I probably did a
little of both in my recent post on ETNs (and blogging while tired). The fine folks at Index Universe took umbrage at my post, and for good reason. I wrote a sloppy post without enough research.
Here’s what I intended, even though it came out wrong. I liked the
post that came from Index Universe, because it highlighted an issue
with ETNs that I had been talking about for two years — you have a
significant credit risk there. In the two years since I wrote the
piece that I cited in my article, I have read dozens of articles on
ETNs, and not one of them mentioned credit risk. So, I was glad that
someone had taken up my point. Or, at least, I thought it was my point.
Complete Story »
A Bumper Crop of Agricultural Products
Hard Assets Investor submits: By Brad Zigler
I should have seen this coming. Feedback from the "Making Sense of Commodity Products"
article skewed heavily in favor of more side-by-side comparisons. Most
particularly, folks are interested in the burgeoning array of
agricultural products hitting the Street.
Complete Story »
The Thing About ETNs
IndexUniverse submits: By Matthew Hougan
Jim Wiandt's mostly right about ETNs. What matters is how they perform for investors.
Complete Story »
International ETF Update: Israel, Russia, Turkey
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Israel Emerges As A Strong ETF Industry Leader
Tucked away in the heart of the Jewish country is Tali 25, an ETF that is already 8 years old. It was Israel's
first fund to market.
Complete Story »
ETF Update: Use Oil, Gold ETFs to Offset Gas Price Increases
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits:
Oil, the Dollar and Gold ETFs Are Working Together
Slight upticks in the dollar against the euro this week may be in
sync with investors timing their re-entry into the market and ETFs.
Complete Story »
ETFs News and Commentary from Seeking Alpha
'ETF' Tag RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com
Hedgeweek Features
Syndicates the latest Hedgeweek Features via RSS 2.0.
Administrators combine as Phoenix Fund Services to target onshore and offshore funds
Three specialist fund administration firms have come together under the umbrella of Phoenix Fund Services to service the increasing number of UK-based managers running offshore traditional and hedge funds alongside their UK onshore platforms.
Alps and Cohen & Steers launch global real estate ETF
Cohen & Steers has announced the launch of a global real estate exchange-traded fund, adviser by Alps Advisers, which offers investors an opportunity to participate in the income streams and diversification benefits of global real estate securities.
Alternative managers account for increasing share of asset management M&A
Sales of alternative investment firms account for a record 40 per cent of deals in the global investment management business so far in 2008, according to Jefferies Putnam Lovell, an adviser on alternative investment transactions and the division of Jefferies Group focused on the asset management and financial technology industries.
Are fund managers' client reporting systems up to scratch?
Client expectations of their wealth managers have changed significantly over the past decade, with the industry adapting product and service suites for a new generation of wealth creators.
BNY Mellon acquires fund of hedge funds administrator Lamp Technologies
Bank of New York Mellon has acquired the fund of hedge funds administrative services business of Lamp Technologies, a Dallas-based alternative investment administrator established in 1997, on undisclosed terms.
Barclay CTA Index slips as managed futures experiences mixed fortunes in April
Managed futures loss ground for the second successive month in April, losing 0.27 per cent according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by Fairfield, Iowa-based index provider BarclayHedge.
Barclay Hedge Fund Index gains 2.28 per cent in April to claw back first-quarter losses
Hedge funds gained on average 2.28 per cent in April, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by Fairfield, Iowa-based BarclayHedge, which reported that 16 of its 18 hedge fund sub-indices enjoyed positive returns for the month.
Baring Private Equity Asia raises USD1.5bn for region's largest growth equity fund
Baring Private Equity Asia has announced the closing of the Baring Asia Private Equity Fund IV with commitments of USD1.51bn making it the largest regional growth equity fund ever raised for Asia and bringing the firm's assets to USD2.5bn.
Blackstone Altius Advisors to offer Asia-focused event-driven strategy
The Blackstone Group has announced that Aaron Nieman will launch Blackstone Altius Advisors, a new event-driven strategy focusing on opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region and managed by an investment team based in Hong Kong as well as professionals in Tokyo, Mumbai and New York.
Blackstone Group and Morgan Stanley top private equity real estate firms
The Blackstone Group and Morgan Stanley Real Estate are the world's largest private equity real estate firms, according to the PERE 30, a new ranking of private equity real estate firms produced by Private Equity Real Estate magazine, part of the PEI Media group.
CB Richard Ellis Investors names Sabina Kalyan as head of European strategy
Real estate investment management firm CB Richard Ellis Investors has announced the appointment of Sabina Kalyan to a newly-created London-based position of European head of strategy.
CFTC obtains freeze on assets of alleged Ponzi scheme perpetrators
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has obtained a federal court order in Santa Ana, California, against Mission Viejo-based investment firm Safevest and its owners and officers, Jon G Ervin and John V Slye, freezing the defendants' assets, prohibiting the destruction of documents, and appointing a temporary receiver.
Cantor Fitzgerald hires Andrew Stark to launch real estate group
Interdealer broker Cantor Fitzgerald has announced the creation of Cantor Real Estate and appointed Andrew N. Stark as an executive managing director to head the group's entry into the real estate investment and development market.
Capita Financial Group appoints administration director in Guernsey
Capita Financial Group, which recently established a dedicated office in Guernsey, has appointed Julian Lane as administration director, responsible for operations and administration on the island.
Central and Eastern European real estate fund popular with Gulf investors
Swiss-based Faisal Private Bank, Bahrain-based Shamil Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank have launched a EUR150m Sharia-compliant Central and Eastern European Real Estate Fund, which takes diversified exposure on development and income-generating real estate assets in Central and Eastern Europe and has a term of five years.
Emergent and Tim Yetman partner for global macro fund launch
London-based Emergent Asset Management, an alternative investment firm specialising in macro and emerging markets, is launching a directional global macro hedge fund in a joint venture with Olea Capital founder Tim Yetman.
Emerging market hedge funds see assets decline in first quarter
Hedge funds offering exposure to emerging markets saw their assets under management fall by nearly 5 per cent in the volatile first quarter of 2008, with total capital declining from more than USD115bn at the end of last year to about USD110bn, according to Chicago-based industry data provider Hedge Fund Research.
Energy sector funds lead hedge fund rally in April, says HFN
Early estimates indicate that the HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average, an equal-weighted benchmark of all single manager hedge funds and CTA/managed futures products in the HedgeFund.net database, containing more than 8,000 current hedge funds, funds of funds and CTA products, gained 1.96 per cent in April but remains down 0.85 per cent so far in 2008.
Epra calls on European property firms to move to standard reporting
Europe's property companies need to move toward standard reporting practices to enable investors to compare firms transparently across the industry, according to Epra, the Amsterdam-based European Public Real Estate Association, as it launches its Best Practices Policy Recommendations
European real estate firms show wide variance in corporate governance, says Epra
Corporate governance standards in listed property companies vary widely across Europe, according to a study released by Epra, the Amsterdam-based European Public Real Estate Association
European venture capital investment rebounds in first quarter, says Library House
The volume of disclosed venture capital invested in Europe rebounded during the first quarter of 2008 to EUR1.40bn, compared with EUR1.41bn and EUR1.26bn in the two previous quarters, according to research and consultancy firm Library House.
Factor-based models can help investors distinguish lucky and talented managers, says study
A non-linear, factor-based model could have reduced the proportion of hedge fund 'time bombs' - managers who have simply been lucky rather than skilled in their past performance - exposed by the fallout from the credit crunch, according to a Riskdata study of hedge fund performance.
Former Prudential business PPM becomes Silverfleet Capital
PPM Capital, the European private equity house, is changing its name to Silverfleet Capital to reflect its independence following a buyout last November from its previous owner, insurance group Prudential.
Global Infrastructure Partners announces close of USD5.64bn first fund
Global Infrastructure Partners, an independent fund manager backed by Credit Suisse and General Electric that invests in infrastructure assets worldwide, has completed fundraising for its first fund with total commitments of USD5.64bn.
Guernsey is great for private equity, says Alchemy's Moulton
Guernsey is a great place to do business, according to Jon Moulton, founder and managing partner of private equity firm Alchemy Partners, who has made his home on the island and sang its praises to more than 100 fund industry practitioner at last week's inaugural Guernsey Private Equity Funds Masterclass in London. "I recommend any of you to use Guernsey for private equity - it works," he exhorted.
Hedge Vision looks for new seed investors as Japan fund winds down
Swiss-based manager Hedge Vision Capital has announced that following the winding down of its 15-month-old Japan Fund after heavy losses in January and substantial investor redemptions, the firm is looking to attract new seed investors for a new attempt to capitalise on opportunities in the Japanese market.
Hedge funds recoup losses with 2 per cent gain, says Hennessee
Hedge funds recovered much of the ground from their losses the previous month with a 2 per cent average gain in April, according to Hennessee Group, an adviser to hedge fund investors and provider of indices and other industry data.
Hedge funds see increased opportunities from market volatility
Despite a number of high-profile failures in the hedge fund industry and the continuing impact of the credit crunch, many managers believe the market dislocation has created increased buying opportunities that are positioning the sector well to deliver long-term absolute returns.
Hedgemedia's AltInvestment Global News Round-Up: Arx Investment's Dwight Sipprelle calls it a day
Star manager Dwight Sipprelle is winding down his USD1.2bn global credit fund and retiring from active money management. The founder of New York-based Arx Investment Management, who previously spent 16 years at Morgan Stanley, plans to shut down the Arx Global High Yield Master Securities Fund, which has gained 150 per cent since its launch in February 2002, by June 30. His brother and fellow Morgan Stanley alumnus, Scott Sipprelle, shut down his own firm Copper Arch late last year.
Hedgeweek Comment: Alternative investment firms are new M&A targets
It isn't every day that a Japanese manufacturing conglomerate, even one with a history in banking, takes a stake in the international asset management sector. So it is quite a big event when Mitsubishi, Japan's largest general trading company, announces plans to enter the alternative investment business in the US.
Hedgeweek Comment: Eggs in different baskets
The times are certainly changing. Even hedge funds, regarded as the investors of the Wild West with their alternative investment strategies, are playing by traditional rules and following the age-old dogma of diversification.
Hedgeweek Comment: Hedge fund places faith in God
The credit crunch, which is still in full flow, has left many seasoned investors praying for a miracle. One of these investors, however, has decided to put money directly into the source of miracles - God.
Hedgeweek Comment: Hedge fund takes on UK government
It was anticipated, if not necessarily expected. Hedge funds have been known to come down hard on underperforming corporates and financial institutions, and are now eyeing bigger targets - this time, the UK government.
Hedgeweek Commentary: Behind the hedge fund news
The tricky conditions in major equity and fixed-income markets are giving a helping hand to a trend already underway, toward investment in assets uncorrelated with the core holdings in investors' portfolios. This is evident in the surge of new funds focusing on esoteric new asset classes, such as vineyards and racehorses, and also in the increased focus on emerging markets including the Middle East and, especially, Africa.
International Housing Solutions receives USD175m for South African housing fund
International Housing Solutions, which specialises in financing affordable housing developments and has operations in the US, the UK and South Africa, has received USD175m in capital for its newly-launched South Africa Workforce Housing Fund.
Invesco Real Estate appoints European head of investment structuring
Invesco Real Estate has announced the senior appointment of Alexander Taft as head of investment structuring for its European business, responsible for bringing together the core functions of business development, fund management, transactions and fund accounting to ensure an integrated and effective service for clients.
Kotak Mahindra launches first multistrategy equity fund
Kotak Mahindra (UK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's Kotak Mahindra Bank, has announced the launch of the Kotak India Dynamic Fund, a multistrategy equity fund that aims to generate an annual absolute return of 20 per cent irrespective of market direction and seeks to minimise monthly downside volatility.
Magnum Global Investments sponsors Crestridge Capital long/short offshore fund
Magnum Global Investments is sponsoring a new offshore hedge fund whose strategy in its US limited partnership yielded net returns of 37.4 per cent last year and has gained 19.4 per cent year in the first four months of 2008.
Magnum Global Investments sponsors Yield Curve Opportunity Fund
Investors looking for investment returns uncorrelated to the performance of equity markets can profit from arbitrage opportunities in yields on US Treasuries in the Yield Curve Opportunity Fund, according to the fund's sponsor, Magnum Global Investments.
Millennium Multi-Strategy Fund reaches three-year anniversary in positive territory for 2008
The Millennium Multi-Strategy Fund, a fund of hedge funds managed by London-based alternative investment manager and currency overlay specialist Millennium Global Investments, is keeping in positive territory for 2008 as the fund marks its third anniversary.
Mitsubishi takes minority stake in Aladdin Capital and injects seed capital
Mitsubishi Corporation has invested USD39m to acquire a 19.5 per cent stake in Aladdin Capital Holdings, an alternative investment manager specialising in fixed income hedge funds and collateralised debt obligations.
Morgan Stanley Private Equity hires two for European team
Jean-Philippe Barade and Alasdair Thomson are joining Morgan Stanley Private Equity in London as executive directors, becoming part of a team focused on leveraged buyouts, corporate divestitures, sponsored recapitalisations, joint ventures and other direct investments in Europe.
Morgan Stanley closes USD4bn global infrastructure fund
Morgan Stanley has closed Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners with USD4bn in equity commitments from pension funds, insurance companies and high net worth individuals worldwide as well as from the firm and its employees, exceeding its initial target of USD2.5bn.
Morgan Stanley launches double long and short euro exchange-traded notes
Morgan Stanley has announced the launch on NYSE Arca of two exchange-traded notes, Market Vectors-Double Long Euro ETN and Market Vectors-Double Short Euro ETN, which aim to provide US investors with leveraged directional exposure to the euro-US dollar exchange rate.
National Stock Exchange says assets of exchange-traded products climb
The Chicago-based National Stock Exchange has reported that the assets of US-listed exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes reached USD609bn at the end of last month, an increase of 27 percent from USD478bn at the end of April 2007.
Nedgroup Investments appoints Fortis Prime Fund Solutions as administrator
Fund of hedge funds provider Nedgroup Investments has appointed Fortis Prime Fund Solutions' Isle of Man office as the administrator for all of its funds, including the Nedgroup Investments Premium Portfolio launched in February.
PAI Partners closes European fund at record EUR5.4bn
Paris-based private equity firm PAI Partners has announced the final closing of PAI Europe V at EUR5.4bn, which the firm says is the largest private equity fund ever raised in continental Europe and double the size compared of its predecessor fund raised three years ago.
Partners Group establishes Beijing office to boost private equity business
Partners Group, the Swiss-based alternative asset manager, has expanded its Asian presence with the opening of its Beijing office. The firm says the rapid growth of the Chinese private equity market, in terms of both investment opportunities and investor segments, offers attractive opportunities for future development.
Prime brokers' revenue to exceed USD11bn this year, predicts Tabb study
Prime brokers will generate more than USD11bn in revenues from hedge funds this year, a 15 per cent increase over 2006, according to the fourth annual benchmark industry research study from the Tabb Group, a research and strategic advisory firm specialising in capital markets.
RAB Capital sees assets fall through performance and redemptions
London-based hedge fund manager RAB Capital has reported at its annual general meeting that assets under management have declined to USD6.34bn at the beginning of May, as a result of the impact of difficult trading conditions on performance as well as investor redemptions.
State Street unveils new international SPDR ETFs
State Street Global Advisors, the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, has announced the launch of two new SPDR exchange-traded funds on the American Stock Exchange.
Stellar Asset Management launches Baltic states property fund
Stellar Asset Management is launching the Stellar Baltic States Fund, its first investment fund for UK investors, which aims to capitalise on the developing property market in the Baltic states, working in partnership with regional property specialist Bristol & Stone and Capital City Developments.
Structured Portfolio Management hires trading and portfolio management executive
Mortgage-backed securities manager Structured Portfolio Management has recruited Charles Smart as senior vice-president for trading and portfolio management, responsible for developing mortgage-backed securities derivative analytics as well as conducting prepayment risk and credit modelling.
Structured credit funds slowed decline in March, index suggests
Both gross and net monthly returns for the Palomar Structured Credit Hedge Fund Index showed further negative performance in March, albeit significantly reduced from their decline in February. However, funds using a correlation trading strategy managed to buck the trend.
Three new private equity partners join McGuireWoods' Chicago office
US law firm McGuireWoods is expanding its private equity practice with the addition in its Chicago office of three new partners, Geoffrey C. Cockrell, Mark A. Kromkowski and Michael P. Lusk, recruited from local law firm Wildman Harrold.
Time to move on? Post your CVs on jobs.hedgemedia.com
Hedgemedia.com is the world's largest portal for jobs in the alternative investments sector - hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds - at http://jobs.hedgemedia.com
UBS lists first platinum ETNs on NYSE Arca
UBS has listed the first exchange-traded investment products linked to platinum in the US on NYSE Arca, whose listings account for 56 per cent of the country's USD609bn in exchange-traded fund and exchange-traded note assets under management at the end of April.
Uncertainty for GLG Partners as emerging markets strategy plunges
GLG Partners, the London-based hedge fund manager that obtained a New York Stock Exchange listing last year through a reverse takeover, has reported virtually flat assets under management at the end of the first quarter, with net inflows of 3.1 per cent and currency gains all but cancelled out by negative performance.
iShares launches three new small-cap ETFs in London
iShares, the exchange-traded fund provider arm of Barclays Global Investors, has launched three new small cap iShares ETFs, adding coverage of small-cap stocks in the US, Japan and Asia excluding Japan to its existing products covering the European market.
Hedgeweek News
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10 Worst Market Crashes
If the market this year has you concerned with all the talk about a possible recession, let's put it in perspective by taking a look at the Worst Market Crashes...
First Actively-Managed ETF
The American Stock Exchange and Bear Sterns launched the first actively-managed Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) today. The Bear Stearns Current Yield ETF will trade under the ticker of YYY (Amex:...
What is a Mutual Fund?
Far too often investment writers incorrectly assume that their readers understand what a mutual fund is. Read this article as an absolute starting point for learning about mutual funds....
Mutual Fund BOD
Ever wonder what the backgrounds are of the people who typically serve on a mutual fund board? Take a look at the typical Mutual Fund Board of Directors....
Bear Sterns: Looking Back
The recent pounding Bear Sterns (BSC) took and the bailout from J.P. Morgan (JPM) reminds me much of the banking problems that plagued Black Thursday, 1929. Thank goodness the rest...
Fund.com Purchased for $10 Million
Touted as the biggest-ever domain name purchase, Fund.com is reported to have been purchased for $9,999,950 cash. Fund.com's new owner, Fund.com Inc., trades with the ticker FNDM.OB. Fidelity owns...
Millionaire Growth Rate Slows
According to data from the Spectrum Group, the number of new millionaires over the last year only grew 2%. In '06, the growth rate was 8% (11% in '05 and...
5-Year TIPS Yields Below Zero
For the first time, 5-Year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are paying below 0%. Demand for TIPS have been high since late February as many investors expect inflation to be a...
Eliot Spitzer Under Fire
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the man credited with cleaning up Wall Street while he was Attorney General - probably best known for uncovering the 2003 mutual fund scandals, finds...
Investing Resolutions
Did you make New Year's resolutions about your investing habits? Now that we're part way into March and you've probably finished or are getting close to finishing your taxes, it...
About Mutual Funds
Mutual Funds
Hot stocks in cold sectors, and vice versa
Tom McIntyre, a money manager with McIntyre, Freedman & Flynn in Orleans, Mass., says that investors know what’s hot and what isn’t, and must decide if they want to get involved in those situations of extreme valuation and movement.
Chuck Jaffe: Effective 401(k) fee reform needs plain and simple disclosures
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Congress can change the rules on 401(k) fee disclosure, but until consumers start reading more information and employers know how to supply it, the effort is akin to putting a bow on a pig and saying it's the Easter Bunny. It's not going to deliver the goods.
Global Investor: How a win by Democrats might scramble your global portfolio
As far as analysts are concerned, the fallout from a Democratic win in November on global markets is not easy to decipher, although many say just the image of a fresh start could be a benefit.
FundWatch: Top small-cap stock fund will reopen to new investors
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- In the latest example of a top mutual-fund unlocking its doors to waiting investors, Third Avenue Small-Cap Value Fund said it will accept new shareholders for the first time in more than two years.
Separating the buying opportunities from the value traps
Karl Mills, manager of the Counterpoint Select fund, says that investors should recognize that they are in a bit of a pickle with the credit crisis coming to an end but an economic contraction still squeezing people hard.
The Stockpickers: High growth, high quality key for Franklin fund manager
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Mutual-fund manager Grant Bowers believes that now is the time for growth stocks.
Paul B. Farrell: Six reasons 'Lazy Portfolios' beat market timing every time
“The worst is likely behind us,” said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson last week. Start playing the market? Hey, why not? Another bull’s already predicting 16,000 on the Dow this year! But can you really trust him?
The Stockpickers: Income fund taps Telefonica, Canadian Oil Sands, McDonald's
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Income that keeps pace with inflation is a valuable financial tool for retirement. Mutual-fund manager Brad Kinkelaar is trying to provide just that as waves of retirees wash over the U.S. and other developed countries.
ETF Investing: First exchange-traded notes for platinum fuel latest rally
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- New exchange-traded notes tied to platinum give individuals the ability to invest more conveniently in the white metal, which saw its price pushed even higher last week as markets anticipated the listing.
Chuck Jaffe: In credit crisis, ultra-short bond funds haven't been ultra-safe
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- When it comes to investing, there are times when boring is good, when the idea is to find a safe haven in a fund that does a simple job, easily and without flash, the kind of mutual funds you can hold without fear of what happens the next time you look at your statement.
MarketWatch.com - Mutual Funds
MarketWatch, a leading publisher of business and financial news, offers users up-to-the minute news, investment tools, and subscription products.
Stuck in frozen funds
Question: I've been parking cash in auction-rate preferred shares of the MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust. Now I'm reading about failed auctions. Are ARPS as safe as I thought they were? - David Schempf, Spearfish, S.D.
Why acting bearish is a dumb move
If the thought of opening up your mutual statement makes you squeamish or if you avert your eyes whenever CNBC comes on at the gym, it's understandable. This has been one ferocious stock market. Not only has Wall Street been flirting with a bear market - conventionally defined as a 20% decline in the major indexes - but we're now in "the second-worst eight-year period for stocks since the 1930s," says money manager Martha Ortiz of Aronson Johnson & Ortiz in Philadelphia.
Steady funds for unsteady times
Remember those slow-but-steady stock funds that frustrated you last year - the ones you thought about getting rid of because they were lagging when the market was up?
The best new features of a rich 401(k)
Over the past year or two, a combo of new government regulations and a chaotic stock market - not to mention the continued slashing of traditional pensions - has spurred many companies to revamp their 401(k) plans in ways that can pay off big-time.
The best mutual funds to pick now
Coping in a market like this requires patience and prudence (and maybe a few dividends).
The best fund manager of our time
To invest in a mutual fund is to make a bet on the future. Whether that bet pays off is a function of how skillful the fund manager is, how lucky he is, how well the market does and how well the manager treats you.
3 rules of investing: Location, location, location
Question: Having just read several of your articles on retirement planning, I have these questions regarding tax deferred and taxable accounts during retirement:
Are American Funds a good buy?
Question: My financial planner is continually suggesting American Funds. My concern is the 5.50% load. What is your opinion of American Funds?
Keep your cool in a dangerous market
Don't give in. Pros have all sorts of clever computer models for assessing risk. But even those brilliant machines misjudge risk from time to time (like in the subprime meltdown).
Are high-fee funds worth it?
Question: I have invested in no-load mutual funds for 20 years, but I'm looking at a fund with a 4.5% load. If I plan to hold it for a very long time, investing periodically, does it make sense to pay the load? --Tom Kushner, New Canaan, Conn.
Retired - and ready to play it safe
When William Marlowe retired in 2003, following careers in the Navy and the Department of Energy, he was sure that he and his wife Kat could safely live on his military pension, her generous civil service pension and a small slug of Social Security - which together net the couple $88,000 a year.
The home stretch to retirement
With plans to retire in the next five to eight years, Linda Paine knows exactly how much investment risk she can tolerate: zero.
An early start on retirement dreams
When you're young, the most important thing you can do financially is get off to a good start. Jodi and David Lewis have certainly done that - at least when it comes to their jobs.
Betting the farm on foreign funds
Question: Is now a good time to move more of my portfolio from domestic mutual funds into international funds? - Brett Phillips
Asset Allocator
Get the right mix of stocks and bonds.
Fidelity's Magellan reopens for investors
A household name among mutual funds, Fidelity Investments' Magellan Fund, is opening to investors again after a decade, the Boston-based company announced Monday.
Small investor? Stick with funds
Question: I would like to invest in stocks, but I can't afford to buy large quantities. Earlier this year, for example, I would have loved to have bought Countrywide Financial when it was trading at $8.21 a share, but I only had enough money for 15 to 20 shares. Is there a way for someone like me to buy small amounts of stock a few times a year without getting killed by fees? -J. Parker
Do the right thing AND make money
Should you put your money where your heart is? Let's say you agree with Al Gore about global warming - or, on the other hand, you feel that the biggest threat to our society is the corrosion of traditional values.
The wrong place to find income for life
Question: My financial advisor informed me that I must do something or I will run out of money. I am a 74-year-old woman, in relative good health. I retired 13 years ago. I have about $83,000 in an IRA (have been receiving $450 a month from this account, less taxes). She advises a variable annuity with guaranteed income for life. Another adviser wants me to transfer the funds to him to invest in a long-term growth strategy.
Protect your family without breaking the bank
Question: What's the best type of life insurance? Should I buy term, whole life or universal insurance?
Mutual fund advice and news - CNNMoney.com
From CNN and Money magazine, CNNMoney.com combines business news and in-depth market analysis with practical advice and answers to personal finance questions.
Hot stocks in cold sectors, and vice versa
Tom McIntyre, a money manager with McIntyre, Freedman & Flynn in Orleans, Mass., says that investors know what’s hot and what isn’t, and must decide if they want to get involved in those situations of extreme valuation and movement.
Chuck Jaffe: Effective 401(k) fee reform needs plain and simple disclosures
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Congress can change the rules on 401(k) fee disclosure, but until consumers start reading more information and employers know how to supply it, the effort is akin to putting a bow on a pig and saying it's the Easter Bunny. It's not going to deliver the goods.
Global Investor: How a win by Democrats might scramble your global portfolio
As far as analysts are concerned, the fallout from a Democratic win in November on global markets is not easy to decipher, although many say just the image of a fresh start could be a benefit.
Hickey and Walters (