The Reaper's return yesterday apparently prompted an intense response by the Stork, as seven new funds came into existence.

Van Eck's latest Market Vectors offering, the Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF, began trading today and is managed by Hao-Hung (Peter) Liao and George Cao. The fund seeks to replicate the performance of the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities ex Financials Index as closely as possible. [SEC Filing] [Press Release]

Global X Funds is launching three new funds: the Global X SuperIncome & MLP Index ETF, the Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF, and the Global X SuperIncome REIT ETF. The SuperIncome & MLP Index and SuperIncome REIT ETFs seek investment results that correspond to their respective underlying Solactive indices, and the SuperIncome Preferred ETF seeks results that correspond to the performance of the S&P Enhanced Yield North American Preferred Stock Index. [SEC Filing]

Catalyst Funds is expanding its offerings with the Insider Buying Fund. The fund's goal is to achieve long-term capital appreciation, and is managed by Catalyst Capital Advisors senior PM David Miller. [SEC Filing]

First Trust's latest fund, the First Trust High Yield Fund, sets out to provide current income. The fund will be managed by William Housey, Scott D. Fries, and Peter Fasone, all members of the First Trust leveraged finance team. [SEC Filing]

Ramius is launching the Ramius Strategic Volatility Fund, which seeks positive absolute returns in down equity markets while minimizing the costs of providing such protection in other market environments. The fund will be PMed by Stuart Davies and Vikas Kapoor. [SEC Filing]

While the Stork was more active today, so, too, was the Reaper.

MassMutual Premier Funds dissolved its Discovery Value Fund and Main Street Small/Mid Cap Fund effective July 13, 2012, after a plan of liquidation and termination was approved by the funds's board of trustees. [SEC Filing]

TCW Funds filed on July 2, 2012 for the liquidation of the TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund, effective on or about August 31, 2012. The fund will cease sales of shares effective August 24, 2012. [SEC Filing]

Aside from these fund births and deaths, a number of funds are taking on new names and redefining their lives with new investment strategies and objectives.

Thrivent Series Fund, Inc. is renaming the Thrivent Partner Natural Resources Portfolio to Thrivent Natural Resources Portfolio. The Thrivent Partner Emerging Markets Portfolio will also undergo a name change, changing to Thrivent Partner Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. [SEC Filing]

Van Eck is changing the investment objective of its Market Vectors Coal ETF. Instead of seeking to replicate the performance of the Stowe Global Coal Index as closely as possible, it will now use the Market Vectors Global Coal Index as its underlying benchmark. [SEC Filing]

BNY Mellon is keeping its investment objective of seeking capital appreciation for its BNY Mellon Small/Mid Cap Fund, but is changing its investment strategy. The fund will try to provide results similar to those of the Russell 2500 Index, using proprietary investment processes of the Boston Company Asset Management, LLC. [SEC Filing] 

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