Industry News

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NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 18, 2008
Oppenheimer & Co. charged with ARS fraud

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin today charged Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. with fraud and unethical conduct in the sales of auction rate securities.

NEWS RETIREMENT PLANNING NOV 18, 2008
Consumer-directed health plans gain traction

There are more enrollees in consumer-directed health plans this year than last, and those individuals are more likely to have higher income and enjoy better health than their traditional plan counterparts, according to a study.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 17, 2008
Four carriers take refuge under TARP

Four more insurers have lined up to become banks in the hopes of qualifying for some money from the Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 17, 2008
Japan enters recession territory

Japan is in a recession for the first time since late 2001 as the country’s gross domestic product contracted for two consecutive quarters — the definition of a recession — Japan’s Cabinet Office announced today.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
Investors scramble to find safety in 529s

Politics isn't the only place where people are opting for change.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
Post-election, industry looks to broaden scope of plans

Sensing an opportunity when a new administration and Congress take over in January, the Section 529 college savings plan industry is pushing for an expansion of current rules and regulations governing the programs.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
Emerging markets still offer opportunities

As we wade through the fallout from the credit crisis, it is easy for investors to be fearful instead of seeing long-term opportunities.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
Managed-futures funds outperforming the market

The pain and suffering spreading across the global financial markets has translated into a bonanza of opportunities for the relatively obscure corner of the alternatives space known as the managed-futures industry.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
Giving credit where it is due

Those with poor credit scores might be deadbeats.

NEWS WIREHOUSES NOV 16, 2008
Recruitment deals slim down

The bull market in broker recruitment deals has peaked.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 16, 2008
IPO offers lone asset: a $4.6B lawsuit

In an unprecedented move that some are comparing to gambling on the legal system, a $4.6 billion lawsuit is being packaged as the sole asset of a special-purpose company that is preparing an initial public stock offering.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 14, 2008
The Hartford makes bid to become S&L

The Hartford (Conn.) Financial Services Group Inc. today announced that it has applied to the Office of Thrift Supervision to become a savings and loan holding company.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 14, 2008
In a first, Prudential cuts dividend

Shareholders will receive an annual dividend of 58 cents per share of common stock Dec. 19, down by about 50% from the dividend paid out in 2007.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 14, 2008
Consumer sentiment inches up

Consumer sentiments improved slightly in November, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 14, 2008
Retail sales dive to record low

Retail sales fell 2.8% in October to a seasonally adjusted rate of $363.7 billion, marking the largest decline since the data were first tracked by the Department of Commerce in 1992.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 13, 2008
Minorities and middle market underserved niches

Agents and advisers are overlooking an opportunity for new life insurance sales: the middle market and minorities, said Catherine H .Smith, chief executive officer of U.S. insurance at ING North America Insurance Corp., in Atlanta.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 13, 2008
Three cheers for fed regulation, insurers cry

“Ultimately, the consumer ought to benefit from greater regulation, provided that we heed the lesson of the current crisis,” said Christopher “Kip” Condron, president and chief executive of AXA Financial Inc. in New York.

NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES NOV 13, 2008
Execs chide carriers for 'stupid' behavior

Egregious risk taking in the name of impressive earnings has led to massive losses in the insurance industry, and now carriers need to think realistically about their pricing models and investments, executives said at a conference today.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 13, 2008
Jobless claims hit 25-year high

The number of individuals receiving unemployment benefits reached 3.9 million last week — an increase of 65,000 from the previous week — the highest level since January 1983.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS NOV 13, 2008
Fortress posts $57 million loss

Fortress Investment Group LLC posted a third-quarter loss of $57 million, or 66 cents per share, as the alternative-asset management firm proved susceptible to financial market turmoil.