Morgan Stanley downgraded ING Groep NV, Standard Life PLC and Aegon NV to “underweight” from “equal weight,” expecting more challenges ahead for the insurers, Reuters reported.
The economic crisis has reduced prices of U.S. imported and exported goods and services at the fastest pace since 1988, when records were first kept, according to a Department of Labor report.
Those regs, slated to go into effect Jan. 1, require that retirement plans run by non-profit groups must have new plan document rules in place.
The Ryland Group has become the latest home builder to slash its dividend, chopping its quarterly dividend by 75% to 3 cents a share, from 12 cents.
Several third-party technology providers have banded together and this week launched a new forum to help educate and assist newly independent advisers in their selection of software, hardware and other technology components to complete their back offices.
Retail sales fell for the fifth consecutive month — 1.8% in November — according to the Department of Commerce.
The SEC finalized settlements today with Citigroup and UBS that will provide nearly $30 billion to tens of thousands of customers who invested in auction rate securities before the market for these investment products dried up in February.
Excise taxes imposed on retirement savings account holders who do not take minimum distributions by age 70½ would be suspended for 2009 under legislation unanimously approved last night by the House of Representatives.
Confidence among Americans regarding their future personal financial conditions and the jobs market continue to decline, dropping the index near to its all-time low of this past July.
