Products April 16, 2009

Buck Consultants Starts Green Awareness Consulting Service

Buck Consultants, an ACS company, introduced a green awareness consulting service to help employers change their employees' behaviors in the office and at home.
Reported by

The human resource and benefits consulting company said the green awareness program features monthly electronic communications, including newsletters and interactive games. Further, according to a press release, Buck will work with companies to appoint green coordinators in local offices to help develop plans and serve as points of contact for green practices.

According to the release, when implemented internally, Buck found that one-third of its employees made significant changes in their daily behavior, including:

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  • increased recycling
  • decreased printing
  • elimination or reduction in the use of bottled water, plastic, and Styrofoam cups
  • utilizing reusable grocery and lunch bags
  • switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and other energy saving and green products
  • changing transportation habits, such as limiting car trips, carpooling, buying hybrid cars, using mass transit, and biking or walking to work.

More information is available on the company’s Web site:

More information is available on the company’s Web site: www.buckconsultants.com.

 

Products April 16, 2009

State Street Launches Convertible Bond ETF

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) introduced what it said is the first convertible bond exchange-traded fund (ETF) available to U.S. investors.
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SSgA, the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, said the SPDR Barclays Capital Convertible Bond ETF began trading on the NYSE Arca today.

The ETF, which has an expense ratio of 40 basis points, seeks to track the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Convertible Bond >$500MM Index. Convertible bonds are bonds that can be exchanged, at the option of the holder, for a specific number of shares of the issuer’s preferred or common stock.

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“As the first ETF to provide exposure to the benefits of convertible bonds, the SPDR Barclays Capital Convertible Bond ETF underscores our commitment to develop innovative ETFs for investors seeking precise access to all segments of the market,” said James Ross, senior managing director at State Street Global Advisors, in an announcement about the ETF’s launch.

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