USAA Expands Mutual Funds
USAA in San Antonio, Texas, is making 18 of its mutual funds available through the online E*Trade Securities investment platform.
These include 12 USAA fixed-income funds that have, according to fund tracker Lipper Analytical, outperformed their averages for the past ten years. Included is the USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund, the best-performing fund of the group.
The funds will also still be accessible through www.usaa.com.
MFS Expands Target-Date Funds
MFS Investment Management in Boston, is expanding its line of Lifetime target date mutual funds with a new offering, the MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund. The fund is managed by Joseph Flaherty, the portfolio manager for MFS' Lifetime funds.
The launch of the new fund is part of an overall effort by MFS to enhance its target-date fund line, both by launching new funds and, within those funds, beefing up exposure to non-correlated asset classes. The firm earlier this year christened new global bond and commodity strategies for its mutual fund roster that will become part of the underlying Lifetime strategies. The target-date funds have also been reducing their exposure to cash and increasing their exposure to non-U.S. equities, fixed-income securities and global real estate.
Vanguard Creates Real Estate Fund
Vanguard has introduced an international real estate index fund with ETF shares based on the S&P Global ex-U.S. Property Index.
The fund will invest in real estate investment trusts and real estate operating companies in emerging and developed markets outside the United States. The fund will complement the Vanguard REIT Index Fund, which holds domestic real estate securities.
"Modest exposure to real estate investments in a broadly diversified investment portfolio can help moderate overall portfolio volatility and serve as a hedge against inflation," says Gus Sauter, Vanguard's chief investment officer.