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Why Now Might Be A Good Time To Buy Manulife (MFC)

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:41:19 GMT

This post is presented by Intelligent Speculator, a blog that discusses the markets, makes some picks, mainly in the ETF asset classes as well as technology stocks.[More...]

Principal's Winning Website

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:07:23 GMT

Principal Financial Group’s (PFG) defined contribution plan sponsor website has been ranked first for three consecutive quarters by DALBAR. Additionally, Principal’s defined contribution plan participant site was ranked in DALBAR’s top 10. DALBAR is one of the nation’s leading financial-services market research firms. Principal has also launched iGoogle and text messaging features for its Retirement Plan participants. iGoogle is a personalized web page provided by Google Inc. (GOOG). ? Principal is a leading provider of retirement savings, investment and insurance products and services and competes with companies such as Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ([More...]

Another Call For The Bottom

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:23:00 GMT

The markets have seen some significant gains since their March lows. Each time this occurs there is a new round of experts calling the bottom. Time and time again the market throws them a cruel twist and heads lower. Will this time be different?[More...]

Is The Manulife ( MFC) Dividend Cut Cause For Larger Concern?

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:31:00 GMT

Manulife Financial Corporation surprised the investing world last week by cutting its dividend by 50% in order to use the money saved to build “fortress levels of capital.” Given that this dividend cut caught most people by surprise, commentators began to raise a whole series of other questions. Specifically, some speculated that Manulife’s move could signal another round of dividend cuts as it becomes clearer every day that the recovery will be slow and long. Is this just idle speculation or is there something more to this? Let’s address the dividend cut and its larger implications step-by-step. Why the dividend cut? Manulife faces the same issue as all of its financial sector peers. The good times are over. The cheap money is gone and the era of easy double-digit EPS growth are probably a distant memory (as I blogged recently, ROI from the insurance sector in normal times is relatively[More...]

Has The Insurance Industry Finally Turned The Corner?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:07:00 GMT

There are not many companies whose fortunes are as closely tied to the stock market as those in the insurance industry. When the market is climbing,[More...]

How To Invest In Insurance Companies

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:59:59 GMT

Insurance is often described as banking without money given it engages in a risk management business model using other people’s money. In normal times, insurance companies are stodgy widow and orphan stocks returning a modest return but with a level of safety. For example, using the period of 1993-2003 (i.e. pre-bubble), the S & P Life and Health Insurance Index returned only 3.6% on an annual basis. But, with the cheap lure of money and every CEO suddenly thinking they were high-flying traders, insurance companies got sucked into the vortex of unreasonable risk taking in the recent past. The most notable example was Manulife Financial who invested insurance premiums heavily into equities, and failed to hedge against such trading, found itself in financial trouble. Assuming that the world gets back to normal and risk management companies actually begin to manage risk responsibly again, what should one look for when investing in[More...]

Manulife Financial Corp. (NYSE: MFC) Under Investigation

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:39:48 GMT

While suffering through a large market decline, the last thing you want to see is a a letter from the government.[More...]

Best International Dividend Stocks

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:13:00 GMT

In a previous article I provided a list with the best dividend stocks for the long run. Since the list included only US stocks several readers asked for a similar list with international dividend growth stocks instead. Furthermore, I am also looking to expand my portfolio to include at least some allocation to [More...]

10 Dividend Stocks Exceled In March

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:37:00 GMT

For many investors, the glass is always half full. Even in the darkest of times, they always [More...]

Daily Report For Tuesday: Apr 7, 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:31:58 GMT

(8:05am ET) Stocks closed Monday's session in NY lower on a lightly-traded day, but much higher Week over Week. Through Friday, the major market indexes saw their largest four-week gains in seventy-six years. Now the market is preparing for 1Q2009 earnings season, which gets underway today with Alcoa (AA). On Monday, the DJIA (-41.74 -0.52% to 7975.85), S&P (-7.02 -0.83% to 835.48), and NASDAQ (-15.16 -0.93% to 1606.71) could not make headway against concerns the major banks may be preparing to release negative quarterly reports. The Toronto Composite (-49.59 -0.55% to 9016.17), and Venture Board (-12.42 -1.27% to 963.17) were also down on the day, but higher Week over Week. In international equity markets today, the closing prices showed losses except for Shanghai China (+0.80% to 2439.2): Australia -1.30% to 3648.5; Hong Kong -0.46% to 14929.0; India -1.80% to 10534.9; and Japan -0.28% to 8832.9. At 7:30am ET,[More...]

Manulife Financial completes $2.5 Billion Common Equity Offering

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT

TORONTO, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) announced today that its offering of $2,500,400,000 of common shares announced on November 18, 2009 has been completed.
The common shares to be offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (U.S. Securities Act), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such common shares in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is unlawful.

[More...]

Creative fund offers B800m

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Nov. 26--The Thailand Creative Fund, managed by MFC Asset Management, will provide funding packages of 10-15 million baht to medium-sized companies operating in the creative sector, says Apisit Laistrooglai, managing director of the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC).
Five state-run financial institutions recently collaborated to set up the 800-million-baht fund as a mechanism to support the government's policy to develop the creative economy.
Mr Apisit said the TCDC would try to encourage its members to apply for the fund.

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SET rallies on cancelled anti-government protest

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Nov. 26--Thai stocks jumped 2.88 percent yesterday to end a four-day losing streak as investors welcomed news that anti-government protesters would cancel plans to hold a mass rally this weekend.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand index closed at 695.69 points, up 19.47, in moderate trade worth 18.17 billion baht.
The gains came almost entirely in the afternoon session after the "Red Shirt" leaders, supporters of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, scrapped plans to rally this weekend in Bangkok.

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Manulife Financial to purchase fund management JV in China

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:47:00 GMT

Manulife Financial, based in Canada, has signed an agreement to purchase Fortis Bank's 49% ownership in China-based ABN Amro Teda Fund Management Company for a cash purchase consideration of E105 million.
The new joint venture (JV), which will be called Manulife Teda Fund Management Company, will provide traditional retail and institutional asset management across the Chinese market.
While Manulife Teda Fund Management Company plans to maintain and grow its existing platform of asset management products, over time, it also plans to seek regulatory approval for expanding its lines of business as and when permitted by the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other relevant bodies.

[More...]

Watercooler Stories

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:25:00 GMT

Watercooler Stories[More...]

A smile on Facebook loses woman's benefits

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:25:00 GMT

A smile on Facebook loses woman's benefits[More...]

New fund proposed to manage stocks held by Finance Ministry

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:46:00 GMT

Nov. 23--The State Enterprise Policy Office has proposed establishing a new fund to help manage the more than 785 billion baht worth of stocks held by the Finance Ministry.
It is currently being reviewed by Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.
For the most part, the ministry relies on outside experts to manage its shareholdings, including asset management firms such as MFC Asset Management or Krungthai Asset Management in the oversight of the Vayupak Fund.

[More...]

Financial Services Leadership Council to work with three levels of government to promote jobs

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:47:00 GMT

TORONTO, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Chief executive officers from a cross- section of Ontario's financial services industry gathered today to form a "Financial Services Leadership Council" to guide implementation of a strategy designed to raise Toronto's status as a global financial services hub, thereby attracting investment and creating jobs.
Creation of the Council was recommended in a report issued last week by the Toronto Financial Services Working Group.
They discussed the working group report, entitled "Partnership and Action: Mobilizing Toronto's Financial Centre for Global Advantage," which was prepared for them by Boston Consulting Group, and expressed their support for its goal of growing Toronto Region to become one of the two leading financial clusters in North America and one of the top ten global hubs.

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PicksThatMove.com Announces Investment Opinion on Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Alcoa Inc., Manulife Financial Corporation, Golden Valley Development and Northgate Minerals Corporation

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:45:00 GMT

PicksThatMove is pleased to bring investors special situation stocks which have a high potential for price appreciation.
At PicksThatMove, our team scours the technical and financials of hundreds of companies to identify those stocks showing the greatest potential for growth.
Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BRCD), $7.31, +0.22, 3.10%, provides a line of storage networking products and services and a SAN management operating system enabling companies to network application servers with storage devices through a SAN.

[More...]

La Financiere Manuvie obtient le Prix Or de l'Institut national de la qualite

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:18:00 GMT

WATERLOO, ON, le 8 sept. /CNW/ - Le service de l'Exploitation de l'unite Gestion de patrimoine, Individuelle, qui fait partie de la Division canadienne de la Financiere Manuvie, a recu de l'Institut national de la qualite (INQ) un prix pour ses realisations exceptionnelles en matiere de qualite.[More...]

Manulife Financial receives gold Quality award from National Quality Institute

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:18:00 GMT

WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 8 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial's Canadian Individual Wealth Management Operations has been recognized by the National Quality Institute (NQI) for outstanding achievement in Quality.[More...]

John Hancock Investors Trust Declares Quarterly Distribution

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:46:00 GMT

BOSTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Investors Trust declared a quarterly distribution of $0.4274 per share today.
The distribution rate is payable September 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on September 11, 2009 and with an ex-date of September 9, 2009.
John Hancock Investors Trust is a diversified, closed-end fund.

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John Hancock Income Securities Trust Declares Quarterly Distribution

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:48:00 GMT

BOSTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Income Securities Trust declared a quarterly distribution of $0.3202 per share today.
The distribution rate is payable September 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on September 11, 2009 and with an ex-date of September 9, 2009.
John Hancock Income Securities Trust is a diversified, closed-end fund.

[More...]

Roy Jacobs & Associates Announces That Purchasers of Manulife Financial Corporation Securities Have Only Two Weeks Left to File for Lead Plaintiff -- MFC

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:49:00 GMT

Roy Jacobs & Associates announces that purchasers of Manulife Financial Corporation securities between March 28, 2008 and June 22, 2009 have only two weeks left to file for Lead Plaintiff. The class action for violation of the securities laws is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.[More...]

John Hancock Announces Launch of the John Hancock Technical Opportunities Fund

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:20:00 GMT

John Hancock Funds has responded to one of the most common questions asked by mutual fund investors during last year's meltdown in the financial markets with the launch of the John Hancock Technical Opportunities Fund . The Technical Opportunities Fund incorporates an unconstrained, bottom-up technical approach that employs rigorous stock selection methods, but provides the fund's sub-adviser with the flexibility to invest up to 100 percent of fund assets in cash. It is intended as a specialty strategy for asset allocation in retail portfolios, given its potential diversification benefits.[More...]