[ad_1] Actively managed strategies should have a place at the core of well-designed retirement plans. That a broad cross-section of the industry continues to hold this view is evidenced in part by positive flows into many actively managed strategies, as well as the excess returns posted by them over the past 12 months. Many of these strategies continue to be prominently used in both defined contribution (DC) plans and target date funds. Nevertheless, we recognize that recent studies and the substantial flow of assets into passive strategies over the past few years have kept front and center the question of…
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[ad_1] Mortgage rates moved slightly lower this week, but not enough to motivate most buyers. The average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell five basis points to 6.79% the week ending Feb. 20, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. A basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point. It’s the lowest average we’ve seen so far this year, but mid-January’s peak was only about a quarter of a percentage point higher. You could argue that we’re in a relatively static period for mortgage rates: Over the past year, the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage…
[ad_1] Top news sources reported that India and France will collaborate on building Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors for civilian use. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that both countries will design, develop, and produce these reactors together. He noted that modular reactor technology is still in its early stages. Significantly, international cooperation will help address challenges in large-scale nuclear projects. This partnership signals a major shift in India’s nuclear policy. The government used to enforce strict rules. Now, it is opening the sector to global partnerships and private investment. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be…
[ad_1] Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square, speaks on stage at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a cryptocurrency conference held at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood in Miami, Florida, on June 4, 2021.Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesBlock reported fourth-quarter results on Thursday that fell short of Wall Street expectations. The stock dropped more than 7% in extended trading.Here is how the company did, compared to analysts’ consensus estimates from LSEG.Earnings per share: 71 cents, adjusted vs. 87 cents expectedRevenue: $6.03 billion vs. $6.29 billion expectedRevenue increased about 4.5% from $5.77 billion a year earlier.Block, formerly known as Square, posted $2.31 billion…
[ad_1] Stay up-to-date with free briefings on topics that matter to all Californians. Subscribe to CalMatters today for nonprofit news in your inbox.In a surprising twist, California’s controversial new fuel standard — a key part of its effort to replace fossil fuels — has been rejected by the state agency that reviews the legality of state regulations.The fuel standard enacted by the Air Resources Board last year was the subject of a rancorous debate, largely because it will potentially increase the price of gasoline and diesel fuels by an unknown amount.The rules were rejected by the state Office of Administrative Law, a…
[ad_1] Municipal bonds are already beloved by high-income investors, but those seeking additional yield and beefier returns are reaching for a little more risk. The high-yield muni bond corner of the market includes issues with below-investment grade ratings – that is, rated below BBB by Standard & Poor’s. This also means that these issuers face a greater risk of default and missing their interest payments compared to their AAA-rated counterparts. But investors willing to take a little more risk are rewarded with heftier returns. The U.S. high-yield muni bond fund category posted an average 12-month return of 5.22% as of…
[ad_1] The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the fifth week in a row to its lowest level since late December, a welcome boost for prospective homebuyers in what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for home sales. The average rate fell to 6.85% from 6.87% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.9%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also eased this week. The average rate fell to 6.04% from 6.09% last week. A…
[ad_1] US President Donald Trump has signalled he could trade aid to Kyiv in its fight against Russia’s invasion for access to Ukraine’s “rare earth” metals, key elements used in electronics. [ad_2] Source link
[ad_1] Ukraine’s mineral wealth has been thrown into the spotlight as US President Donald Trump looks to seize control of its resources in return for military support. Yet very little is actually known about what’s up for grabs. Various reports have suggested that Ukraine has mineral deposits worth upwards of $10 trillion, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government has been keen to promote crucial materials that can be exploited as it seeks more military and economic support. Rare earth elements — which play a key role in defense and other high-tech industries — have become a particular focus for Trump as…
[ad_1] Omar Marques | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesInvestors continued to dump Palantir shares on Thursday, escalating concerns that the latest hot pick among retail traders could be fizzling out.Shares of the mysterious technology and defense stock retreated close to 9% on Thursday. That builds on Wednesday’s slide of around 10%, which came after shares touched an all-time high earlier in the day and marked the stock’s worst day since May.Wednesday’s initial decline came as investors keyed in on the CEO’s new stock sale plan and comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported by The Washington Post on plans to slash…