The Markets April 27, 2015

International Equity Remains a Top Draw to Investors

March totals for net new investments in stock and bond funds dipped to $49.4 billion, down from the previous month’s $56.7 billion, according Strategic Insight, an Asset International Company.
Reported by

Net intake to equity products rose to $40 billion from February’s $32.2 billion, driven by a $38.3 billion inflow to international equity. Actively managed international equity funds attracted $12.7 billion in March—a rise from the $6.9 billion of the previous month, led by demand for international growth products ($3.5 billion).

Taxable bond funds attracted lower flows of $7.4 billion during the month—a dip from February’s $30.8 billion—with $4.8 billion of inflows to global bond funds.

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The month’s fund returns showed negative returns for international equity, at -1.1%, and for U.S. equity, at -0.8%. One-month average bond fund returns were flat at 0.1% during the month.

Money market fund net redemptions totaled $27.1 billion in March, up from $9.3 billion in February.

More information about Strategic Insight is at www.sionline.com.

Deals & People April 27, 2015

John Hancock RPS Adds Sales VP in Pittsburgh

John Hancock Retirement Plan Services hired Nick Barcelona as a regional vice president, responsible for sales and relationship development with financial representatives and plan consultants.
Reported by

In the role, Barcelona will focus on new and existing clients in the Pittsburgh region, as well as the wider mid-Atlantic region. He reports to Stephen Davis, divisional vice president for the firm’s mid-Atlantic division.

Bob Carroll, national sales manager for John Hancock RPS, says the firm hopes to leverage Barcelona’s more than 15 years of experience in retirement plans to expand its presence in the Pittsburgh market and nearby areas.

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Barcelona has worked in related roles for a number of other providers in the retirement plan services space and is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a degree in business management. He holds Series 6, 63 and state insurance licenses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States, offering clients a range of financial products and investment services. 

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