The Markets

Japan's financial regulator halted operations of a Tokyo money-management company after finding it allegedly lost billions of dollars in client money.

Bank of America will freeze its pension plans for eligible employees, effective July 1, 2012.

New federal employees will pay 2.3% more toward their government pensions under a new deal approved by Congress.

Working together to increase K-12 employee participation in 403(b) plans can produce benefits for advisers, school districts and employees alike.

 The College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) reported that as of the close of the most recent fiscal year, Section 529 prepaid tuition plans are, on average, approximately 93%...

Investors put an estimated net $35 billion in net inflows into stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in January 2012, reports Strategic Insight (SI).  

Strategic Insight, an Asset International company, reports U.S. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) enjoyed $28 billion in net inflows in January.

The Dietrich Pension Risk Transfer Index was nearly unchanged from its prior month’s level of 86.65 and currently sits at 86.35 as of February 1, 2012. 

Less than half (45%) of young investors plan to contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for the 2011 tax year.

The majority of institutional asset owners closed 2011 in positive territory, according to the Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service (Wilshire TUCS). 

The long-run outlook for the global stock market is likely to be attractive despite a backdrop of elevated market volatility, below-average growth expectations, and near-0% short-term interest rates,...

Few investors are aware that the U.S. stock market has outperformed BRIC markets for four years, according to research from Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC.

At a recent Putnam Investments media briefing, company officials said they predict the U.S. economy could surprise on the upside in 2012.

Registered investment adviser (RIA) deals increased in 2011 despite a decline in the overall number of deals, according to an industry-wide RIA mergers and acquisitions transaction report from...

The U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETF) industry grew to more than $1.04 trillion in assets under management in 2011, according to a report from State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).

The volume of 401(k) participant transfer activity was below average for December, according to the Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index.

A paper suggests that lowering deferral limits to 401(k)-type plans wouldn’t make much dent in the U.S. budget deficit and could result in workers not saving.

Strategic Insight (SI) reports investors withdrew an estimated net $22 billion from stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in December. 

Long-term mutual funds had a second consecutive month of net redemptions with outflows of $9.8 billion in December 2011. 

Institutional investors that participated in a survey by Mercer addressed climate change risk via asset allocation and other initiatives.