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Our experts frequently write blog posts about the findings of the research we are conducting.

Displaying 51-60 out of 83 results for "Mutual Fund".

S&P Downgrades Illinois

(Sep 2012)

Due to unfunded pension liabilities, S&P downgraded the state of Illinois last week. In conjunction with this ratings action, S&P also downgraded several Illinois issuers.

As Reuters reports, this ratings action -- which downgrades Illinois' credit rating from A+ to A -- now makes Illinois the second lowest rated state (after California which is currently rated A- by Standard & Poor's). According to S&P's credit analyst Robin Prunty

[t]he downgrade reflects the state's weak pension funding...

SEC Investor Bulletin on ETFs

(Aug 2012)

The SEC recently released an Investor Bulletin on ETFs which provides background information about ETFs in general and defines several terms which may be confusing to investors. ETFs can be complex and risky investments, as they allow nearly anyone to purchase portfolios which would typically only be suitable for sophisticated investors or traders.

Some commentators were not satisfied with the Bulletin, particularly its lack of new guidelines related to leveraged and inverse products. Paul...

Direxion to Close Several Leveraged ETFs

(Aug 2012)

Direxion Shares ETF Trust announced last week that -- upon recommendation of the trust's advisor Rafferty Asset Management, LLC -- nine daily leveraged and inverse Exchange Traded Funds will be liquidated and shares will no longer be open for purchase as of early next month. From the announcement,

Due to the Funds' inability to attract sufficient investment assets, Rafferty believes they cannot continue to conduct their business and operations in an economically efficient manner. As a result,...

The Small Price of Big Favors

(May 2012)

Yesterday the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a press release announcing that it had filed a complaint alleging Detroit officials -- including former mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick and former city treasurer Jeffrey W. Beasley -- influenced the city's pension fund investments to favor an advisor, MayfieldGentry Realty Advisors LLC, in exchange for personal gifts. This story illustrates an all too common occurrence in municipal finance. According to the SEC, Kilpatrick and Beasley...

SPIVA Scorecard Year-End 2011

(Mar 2012)

S&P recently released their semiannual report comparing the performance of actively managed mutual funds against their appropriate benchmark indices. The S&P Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVA) Scorecard contains information the mutual fund industry would likely prefer to be kept quiet.

The Year-End 2011 SPIVA Scorecard reports that "over a five-year horizon[...] a majority of active equity and bond managers in most categories lag comparable benchmark indices." Actively managed mutual funds...

Oppenheimer Ordered to Repurchase $5.98 Million in Auction Rate Securities

(Jan 2012)

In January 2012, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration panel in New York ordered Oppenheimer to repurchase certain Auction Rate Securities sold to Claimant Nicole Davi Perry for $5.98 million, plus payment of $134,108 in legal fees. The award was posted in FINRA's arbitration database this Monday. See this related report from Reuters. Dr. O'Neal at SLCG testified on behalf of the Claimant; Dr. O'Neal and Dr. McCann have authored a report on ARS previously.

Auction rate...

SEC Press Release: New Short Form Criteria

(Jul 2011)

SEC Adopts New Short Form Criteria to Replace Credit Ratings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release today announcing that it had removed "credit ratings as eligibility criteria for companies seeking to use 'short form' registration when registering securities for public sale." The SEC unanimously voted for the adoption of this new rule, in response to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that encouraged financial regulators to rely...

Dishonest Sales of LEFTs by RBC Capital Markets

(Jul 2011)

Secretary Galvin Charges RBC Capital Markets and Agent with Dishonest Sales of Leveraged and Inverse Leveraged Exchange Traded Funds

The Enforcement Section of the Massachusetts Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth alleges that Michael Zukowski, a registered representative of RBC Capital Markets, made "numerous unsuitable recommendations and sales" of leveraged and inverse leveraged exchange traded funds (ETFs) to clients who did not understand the risks...

SEC Press Release: Forex Ponzi Scheme

(Jul 2011)

SEC Charges Forex Ponzi Operator Who Fled After Scheme Unraveled

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release today announcing that it had

"filed fraud charges Thursday against the CEO of a purported foreign currency trading firm, alleging he scammed hundreds of investors with false promises of high, fixed-rate returns while secretly using their money to fund his start-up alternative newspaper."

Lowrance, Chief Executive of First Capital Savings &...

SEC Press Release: State of Municipal Securities Market

(Jul 2011)

SEC Announces July 29 Field Hearing on the State of the Municipal Securities Market

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release today announcing that

"it will hold a municipal securities market field hearing in Jefferson County, Ala., on July 29. Topics will include distressed communities, small issuers, disclosure, derivatives and pre-trade price transparency."

The purpose of the field hearing is to understand the relevant issues affecting investors in...

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