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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 Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:47:00 GMT

TORONTO, Nov. 5 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial Corporation ("MFC") today reported a net loss attributed to shareholders of $172 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to net income of $510 million in the third quarter of 2008.
Current quarter results reflect equity market increases offset by lower corporate bond rates and changes in actuarial assumptions.
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company ("MLI") reported a Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirements ("MCCSR") ratio of 229 per cent as at September 30, 2009, up from 193 per cent last year.

[More...]

Verizon Business Wins Nissan North America Contract

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:46:00 GMT

Verizon Business has won a multi-year IT Infrastructure outsourcing contract from Nissan North America to provide a wide range of managed and IT consulting services.
Under the contract, Verizon Business will manage and secure Nissan North America's end-to-end IT network infrastructure that connects more than 13,000 employees across 46 locations in the US and Canada.
It will also provide services to manage network security and complexity, including managed wide area networking, managed local area networking (LAN), wireless LAN, managed voice, conferencing, call center and security services.

[More...]

Manulife Financial to Release Third Quarter Financial Results

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:49:00 GMT

TORONTO, Oct. 22 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial Corporation will release its third quarter financial results on the morning of Thursday, November 5, 2009 followed by a live webcast of the quarterly conference call with analysts beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET).
Scheduled speakers are Donald Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer, John DesPrez III, Chief Operating Officer and Michael Bell, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Local (Toronto): 416-340-2216

[More...]

Manulife Financial Acquires Pottruff & Smith Travel Insurance Brokers

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:48:00 GMT

Manulife Financial has purchased Pottruff & Smith Travel Insurance Brokers, a broker and third party administrator of travel insurance across Canada.
Manulife Financial said that strategically, the acquisition is an important purchase for Manulife in Canada.
Paul Rooney, president and CEO of Manulife Canada, said: "The acquisition strengthens our existing travel insurance operations and provides momentum to move our fastest-growing affinity markets' business segment to higher levels."

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LTF and RMF Inflows Brisk

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:46:00 GMT

Oct. 11--MFC Asset Management expects to see inflows of at least 2 billion baht through the end of the year into its long-term equity and retirement mutual funds (LTFs and RMFs) thanks to the upward trend of the equity markets.
Supakorn Soontornkit, an MFC senior executive vice-president, said buying volume in the first five months of the year was weak, in line with the uncertainties over the global recession and domestic politics.
"This year has been the year of the unexpected," he said.

[More...]

Manulife Investor Sentiment Index Gains for Third Straight Quarter

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:07:00 GMT

All investment categories, vehicles in positive territory
WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 6 /CNW/ - Canadians are growing more positive about a wide range of investments amid the current economic news, according to a national poll for Manulife Financial, Canada's leading insurance and wealth management company.
For the third straight quarter, the overall Manulife Investment Sentiment Index registered a strong gain, while eight of 10 investment categories and vehicles rose in the latest quarterly poll for Manulife in mid-September.

[More...]

Funds Stabilise As 'Vanished' Cash Returns

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:49:00 GMT

Sep. 24--Thailand's fund industry has returned to normal, with net assets under management industry-wide projected to exceed 1.82 trillion baht in 2010, according to Pichit Akrathit, the president of MFC Asset Management.
The figure would represent a 3.73 percent increase from the 1.75 trillion baht now managed by local funds, and is based on a 2010 target for the Stock Exchange of Thailand index of 820 points.
Portfolio assets held by the asset management industry would fall to around 1.804 trillion baht assuming the SET index stayed at around 750 points in 2010.

[More...]

Manulife Financial's Canadian Division Captures 12 Awards in International Competition

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:49:00 GMT

WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - Marketing and communications projects from across Manulife Financial's Canadian Division received a record number of awards in the 2009 Insurance and Financial Communicators Association (I.F.C.A.) international awards competition.
Teams from Manulife Bank, Individual Insurance, and Group Savings and Retirement Solutions were recognized for their outstanding work with customer advertising campaigns, customer education materials, and employee communications.
"The range of projects receiving recognition attests to Manulife's continuing commitment to provide innovative resources for advisors, customers, and our employees," said Paul Rooney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Canada.

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Carbon Fund Likely to Be Set Up By Q1

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:48:00 GMT

Sep. 22--Thailand's Carbon Fund is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2010, structured as a high net worth trust as recommended by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The SEC is in the process of imposing regulations to facilitate establishing the Carbon Fund.
MFC Asset Management is ready to play a key role in setting up, said Sopida Luveeraphan, the company's first executive vice-president for private equity and financial advisory business.

[More...]

MFC Plans First 'Fund of Property Funds'

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Sep. 18--MFC Asset Management will launch a small open-ended property fund next month.
It will be the country's first fund of property funds, meaning the fund will itself invest in property funds giving investors a diversified portfolio.
The new fund will be set at a relatively small size of 300 million baht given the limited supply of listed property funds in Thailand, said Supakorn Soontornkit, a senior executive vice-president.

[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.

[More...]

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...]

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III, John Hancock Patriot Premium Dividend Fund II, John Hancock Income Securities Trust, John Hancock Investors Trust, John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund, John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund, (The 'Funds')

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:10:00 GMT

The Funds announced today the earnings for the three months ended July 31, 2009. The same data for the comparable three month period ended July 31, 2008 is also available below.[More...]