The Markets
S&P Sets Index Sights on the 'Stars'
Standard&Poor’s has launched two indexes providing investors with exposure to the top stock picks of Standard&Poor’s Equity Research analysts in Europe and the United States.
Lipper Makes Changes to Fund Rating System
Lipper, Inc. announced changes to its global Lipper Leader rating system that it says will create a more flexible and marketing friendly set of icons that better suit...
S&P Adds Three Shariah Compliant Indexes
Standard&Poor’s has launched three new Shariah-compliant indexes covering the Pan Arab region and publicly traded property companies in developed and emerging markets.
S&P Adds to Global Thematic Indexes
Standard&Poor’s has added the S&P Global Timber&Forestry Index, S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index, and S&P Global Alternative Energy Index to the group of S&P Global Thematic Indices.
Institutional Investors Ramping Up Soft Dollar Allocations
Institutional investors have revived their use of commission payments for “soft dollar″ allocations, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seems to have backed off its push to...
Emerging Equity Markets Continue to Outshine Developed Markets
Emerging equity market returns continued to outpace developed market returns in July, according to Standard&Poor’s global stock market review, The World By Numbers.
Study Says Income Annuities Best to Address Longevity Risk
A new study suggests lifetime income annuities are the most cost-effective and least risky asset class for generating retirement income that will last for an individual’s lifetime.
S&P Tracks Commercial Real Estate in New Indexes
Standard&Poor’s on Tuesday launched its S&P /GRA Commercial Real Estate Indices.
All S&P Investment Styles See Red in July
Nine U.S. equity investment styles posted negative returns in July, with greatest drop coming from SmallCap 600, according to Standard&Poor’s.
Active International Equity Portfolios Outpace MSCI EAFE Index
Two-thirds of active international equity portfolios outperformed the MSCI EAFE Index return of 10.7% for the first six months of 2007, according to consultant InterSec Research.
Investment in Mutual Funds Slows to Near Halt in June
The combined assets of the nation's mutual funds went up slightly by $1.6 billion to $11.39 trillion in June, according to the Investment Company Institute (ICI).
Mutual Funds Take In $23.3B in June
Stock and bond mutual funds experienced net inflows of $23.3 billion in June, according to data from the Financial Research Corporation (FRC).
Advisers Say Clients Like Managed Accounts
Managed money accounts (70%) top advisers’ rankings of investment vehicles “gaining the most favor″ with their clients.
ETF Investors Favor Global Offerings in June
The combined assets of the nation's exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rose in June by $366 million, or 0.1%, to $485.88 billion, according to data from the Investment Company Institute...
Retirement Assets Now Total $16.4 Trillion
Assets of the nation's retirement savings plans reached a record $16.4 trillion in 2006, and account for nearly 40% of household financial assets.
Affluent Investors Still Confident in Stock Market
Citi Smith Barney’s monthly poll of affluent investors finds continued faith in the stock market, though confidence in the long-term investment climate is slipping.
Fear Preventing Older Americas from Stock Market Investment
Most Americans (59%) fear investment losses to the point where it is preventing their investment in the stock market.
Mid-Cap Growth Stocks Outperform in Q2
Mid-cap growth stocks were up 7.23% in the second quarter, making them the star performers among the nine U.S. investment styles listed by Standard&Poor’s.
Americans Not Flocking to International Equities
A scant 13% of Americans currently invest in international stocks and only 19% plan to do so over the next five years.