The benefit of balanced funds
From The Wall Street Journal
Trying to win the war against a temperamental stock market is not easily won by investors. The Wall Street Journal is touting balanced funds, also known as asset-allocation funds, to do just that. The Journal explains that in good times, performance in balanced funds often isn't quite as good as equity funds, but there is less volatility. Balanced funds also typically perform a lot better than bond funds.

Alliance ads say investors need help
From The Wall Street Journal
Day trading is not as glamorous as it once was portrayed. Alliance Capital Management is launching a television advertising campaign that makes fun of the phenomenon of day trading. The campaign, consisting of four new commercials, will be rolled out nationally over the next six months. Two of the spots were already aired earlier this year during major sporting events. Other financial institutions such as online trading firms like Ameritrade and E*Trade have targeted their campaigns at knocking financial advisors and mutual funds. Alliance's new campaign was developed by ad agency Ferrell-Calvillo Communications, with which Alliance has had a relationship since 1994. The four commercials are costing about $12 million.

Scudder reduces funds
From The Boston Globe
Scudder Kemper Investments is it's merging 23 mutual funds and closing six (MFWire 2/9), as the money management arm of Zurich Financial Services Group is looking to increase its partnership with the American Association of Retired Persons and reverse withdrawals of about $3 billion last year. The elimination of funds to 43 follows Scudder's hiring last month of Farhan Sharaff from Citigroup to take over as global investment chief from Cornelia Small. Scudder manages about $53 billion in US and international mutual funds and had outflows of about $3 billion last year.

Kopp closes fund
From TheStreet.com
The Kopp Emerging Growth fund, which returned 148% last year, is closing to new investors with $1 billion this week. Current shareholders and retirement plan participants can still invest in the fund. The fund is also allowing current shareholders to open additional accounts. The $6 billion dollar Kopp Funds also manages private accounts, but Emerging Growth is the firm's only fund offering. The fund is up 7.8% through Tuesday's close, while its average peer is much lower. The industry's philosophy is that most small-cap growth funds become unruly when assets top $1.5 billion.  

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