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Influential Institutional Investors

11 March 2010 - Features - Editor

Banks, retirement funds, pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and insurance companies are some of the financial institutions which pool large sums of money to invest on behalf of others. Referred to as Institutional Investors, these funds are generally subject to more lenient investment regulation because they are deemed by authorities to be experts in their field. This limited regulation comes into play, for example, when Institutional Investors participate in private placements of securities which are not subject to the full might of securities laws. In the United States, private placements may be made to an accredited investor – a term which incorporates Institutional Investors – without registering the offering of securities with the SEC.

Institutional Investors also have the advantage of being able to effectively spread risk by holding a broad portfolio of investments, incorporating a variety of companies and spanning more than one economic sector. Spreading risk ensures that if one company fails, or one sector encounters difficulties, it does not sink the entire investment. Another advantage that Institutional Investors have is that they can play an active role in corporat...

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Legislation Proposed to Regulate Financial Advisors - 8 Mar 2010 - Features

With almost a year having passed by since the US market hit its lowest point in the financial crisis of the past eighteen months or so, investors remain on their guard. Although the US economy is showing signs of recovery, progress is frustratingly slow, and appears set to continue that way at least for the coming few months. Last week's economy-based news revealed that the momentum of job losses is slowing down, which had a positive effect on the market. However, concerns about the debt crisis in Europe, more specifically in Greece, along with indications that the US housing market is still in a slump, and China’s initiatives to put the brakes on its booming economy, are reason enough for investors to err on the side of caution...

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Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Protecting Investor Interests - 4 Mar 2010 - Markets

Enacted as a United States federal law on July 30, 2002, in response to the much-publicized financial scandals of corporate public companies such as Enron, Adelphia, Tyco International, WorldCom and Peregrine Systems, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is named after US Senator Paul Sarbanes and US Representative Michael G. Oxley who initiated it. Known in the US Senate as the 'Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act' and in the House as the 'Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act', it is more commonly referred to simply as Sarbox, or SOX...

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Fairtrade – Promoting Sustainable Development - 1 Mar 2010 - News

Closely linked to the principles of ethical consumerism, green brands and sustainable development, are the principles of Fairtrade. All of which may have some impact on eco-conscious investors who have taken the decision to pursue strategic sustainable investing, supporting stock market listed companies with strong corporate social responsibility programs. Recognizing that very often farmers and their workers at the beginning of the production chain, mainly in developing countries, are not always paid as they should be, Fairtrade’s goal is to offer support to these often marginalized groups as they move towards economic self-sufficiency, sustainability and stability...

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