BofA's agreement to pay $137 million in restitution for taking part in a bid-rigging conspiracy for municipal-investment contracts may
soon be followed by more settlements to repay victims.
by
Jeff Schlegel
Folks with a net worth between $100,000 to $1 million say cash is their
investment option of choice during the next 12 months, according to a
new report.
A former JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker pleaded guilty to rigging bids for municipal-bond investment contracts in the biggest-ever conspiracy in the $2.8 trillion market's history.
AIG sold $2 billion of bonds in its first offering since the
bailout in 2008.
by Eric Uhlfelder
Investors have entered some less explored foreign corners of the debt market in their search for yield. So far, it has been paying off, but
caution is needed.
by
Karen DeMasters
The SEC has revoked the registration of a
Florida RIA that it says used a Ponzi scheme
to defraud federal and state government workers of at least $34
million.
Private placements are being sold to investors even though they
may not understand the risks. A FINRA task force is investigating broker-dealers over "problematic" deals.
Muni-bond issuers may face
more failures in 2011 as federal economic-stimulus aid declines and
budget pressures jeopardize debt payments, says a distressed debt newsletter publisher.
by
Dorothy Hinchcliff
Companies with environmental problems pay a premium to finance debt and
their bonds are assigned lower credit ratings, says a prize-winning study.
Tax-exempt bonds are yielding more than Treasuries for the first time
since the financial crisis, a relationship that history shows doesn't
last.
by
Karen DeMasters
Bank of America has seen a big jump in Roth conversions this year, and an expert there talks about what to consider in determining whether your clients should convert.
Pimco's Bill Gross, who runs the world's biggest bond fund, reduced holdings of government-related debt to the
lowest level since July 2009 and added mortgage-related assets in
October.
Treasury
volatility over the shorter term may increase as the Federal Reserve
begins its second round of asset purchases under quantitative easing,
according to Morgan Stanley's James Caron.
The subprime mortgage crisis isn't the only calamity Wall Street
created that's upending the finances of U.S. states and cities.
The Federal Reserve's plan to
buy an extra $600 billion in Treasury securities over the next eight
months is influencing wealth managers' recommendations for their
clients' portfolios.
by Marla Brill
Undervalued U.S. and Japanese companies, high-yield bonds, tech stocks and gold bullion are all on the menu at IVA Worldwide Fund.
Bill Gross said a renewal of asset purchases by the
Federal Reserve will likely signify the end of the 30-year bull market
in bonds.
The Treasury sold $10 billion of five-year TIPS at a negative yield for the first time as investors bet the Federal Reserve will be successful in sparking
inflation.
