Industry News

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NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 19, 2009
World markets fall, rattled by sharp loss in China

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 19, 2009
Medical Capital invested in movies, mobile marketing and yachts. Oh, and medical receivables

Medical Capital Holdings Inc., which sold private-placement offerings through a number of independent broker-dealers and has been charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission, spent freely and lavishly on assets that had nothing to do with medical receivables — its core business — according to court papers filed last week.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 19, 2009
Inside the mind of Bob Benmosche: Why AIG is keeping its B-Ds

It turns out that Bob Benmosche, the new head of American International Group, isn't selling the company's three independent broker-dealers.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 19, 2009
Finra defends its authority over B-D's dispensing financial advice

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. isn't backing down from its position that it has authority over broker-dealers' financial planning activities.

NEWS ALTERNATIVES AUG 18, 2009
Single-family home building rises for 5th month

Construction of single-family U.S. homes rose 1.7 percent in July, the fifth-straight monthly increase as builders poured foundations at the fastest pace since last October, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 18, 2009
Wholesale prices drop more than expected in July

Wholesale prices dropped sharply in July, and over the past 12 months fell by the largest amount in more than six decades of record-keeping.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 18, 2009
With sale of AIG's B-D network squashed, advisers fret about their futures

Advisers across American International Group Inc.'s three broker-dealers were stunned to learn that — contrary to all prior indications — the sale of the insurer's broker-dealer network would be scrapped.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 18, 2009
Phoenix unveils 'first-to-die' insurance policy

A new life insurance product from The Phoenix Cos. Inc. covers two lives under one policy, providing a death benefit for a spouse or business partner.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 18, 2009
Markets high, confidence low: American still scraping together savings

Despite the run-up in the markets in recent months, Americans remain very pessimistic about their finances — and a growing number of people now say that they're unable to put money away for their futures.

NEWS REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 18, 2009
FPA urges SEC to restrict Finra's enforcement authority

The Financial Planning Association has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to restrict the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.'s enforcement power.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 17, 2009
529 assets spiked in 2Q, but still were off '08 levels

Assets in Section 529 college savings plans are beginning to recover from last year's sharp drop, climbing to an estimated $98.6 billion in the second quarter, up 15% from first quarter assets of $85.9 billion.

NEWS ALTERNATIVES AUG 17, 2009
Homebuilder sentiment index rises in August

The National Association of Home Builders said Monday its housing market index rose in August to the highest point in more than a year, as homebuyers hurried to take advantage of a federal tax credit before it expires.

SEC seeks additional comment on uptick rule
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 17, 2009
SEC seeks additional comment on uptick rule

The SEC today announced that it is seeking additional public comment on an alternative proposed uptick rule that would allow short selling “only at an increment above the national best bid,” according to a commission news release.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 17, 2009
Index annuity sales surged in 2Q on demand for stable retirement income

Index annuity sales rose during the second quarter, hitting $8.3 billion, according to data from Advantage Group Associates Inc.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 17, 2009
Life insurers will be hurt by falling values of fixed-income securities, CFOs say in survey

Values on fixed-income securities will fall, hindering life insurers' financial performance over the next two years.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 17, 2009
Cuomo sues defiant Schwab over ARS sales

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit today against The Charles Schwab Corp., claiming the brokerage firm misled customers about the safety of auction rate securities — and the firm is digging in for a fight.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 17, 2009
Chinese stocks tumble 5.8% on policy jitters

Chinese stocks plunged to their lowest level in two months today, tracking regional losses on renewed jitters over the economic outlook and government policy.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 17, 2009
Aetna needs two years to regain fiscal health, analyst says

Health insurer Aetna Inc. will need two years to bring its profit margins back to their former levels, an Oppenheimer analyst said today in a note to client.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUG 17, 2009
World stocks, oil slide on U.S. consumer worries

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 17, 2009
Catastrophe bonds at their highest level of year

Catastrophe bonds climbed Friday to their highest level of the year amid reports of calmer hurricane outlooks ahead, Bloomberg reported.