UK consumers pay billions in fund dealing costs

LONDON - The funds industry is imposing 18.5 billion pounds of hidden costs on investors every year through dealing charges that are obscured by cryptic fee structures and "convoluted language", new research on financial consumers has found.

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Commods investment almost ground to halt in 2011

- New investments in commodities almost ground to a halt last year, Barclays Capital said on Thursday, with inflows into the sector dropping almost 78 percent from 2010 to the lowest in nine years.

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ETF industry pins hopes on new rules for revival

LONDON - The exchange-traded funds industry is hoping new guidelines due on Monday will quell investor fears about the complexity and transparency of certain products.

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US money funds still cautious on Europe

NEW YORK - U.S.

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Long-term investors go bargain-hunting in Europe

DAVOS, Switzerland - Long-term investors with deep pockets are scanning Europe for lucrative investment opportunities even though a lasting solution for the euro zone crisis is not yet in sight.

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Fearing backlash, firms debate complex ETF limits

HOLLYWOOD, Florida - Exchange-traded fund providers agree that they need to do more to make sure investors understand what they are buying when they invest in an ETF. But the details of how to do that was the subject of debate at IndexUniverse's Inside ETFs Conference.

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Global firms sharpen currency hedging on euro concern

DAVOS, Switzerland - International firms are spending more time at the highest levels discussing how to hedge currency risk, particularly euro-denominated earnings and transactions, in readiness for a worst case scenario of a euro zone breakup.

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UK dividends hit record high in 2011

LONDON - British companies handed out record dividends in 2011 and will pay 11 percent more this year, with mobile phone group Vodafone expected to deliver the most generous payout.

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Shareholders to get vote on executive pay

LONDON - Shareholders should be given a binding vote over how large British companies manage executive pay and more companies should be able to claw back cash from highly-paid staff who fail to deliver, Business Secretary Vince Cable said on Monday.

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Oxfam launches emerging market small business fund

LONDON - Aid agency Oxfam has launched a new fund aimed at helping small-and-medium sized enterprises in developing countries, in conjunction with asset management company Symbiotics.

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