Products April 11, 2008

Invesco PowerShares Launches Actively-Managed Equity ETFs

Invesco PowerShares announced three actively-managed equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and PowerShares' first actively-managed fixed-income ETF began trading on the NYSE Arca.
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PowerShares Active Low Duration Fund (ticker: PLK) seeks to provide total return by investing in a portfolio of U.S. government, corporate, and agency debt securities selected by Invesco World-Wide Fixed Income, according to the announcement. The fund seeks to outperform its benchmark, Lehman Brothers 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index, by applying an actively managed, top-down portfolio construction and bottom-up security selection total return strategy.

PowerShares Active Mega Cap Fund (PMA) seeks to provide long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of mega-capitalization companies according to a quantitative approach developed by Invesco Quantitative Strategies, the announcement said. The methodology seeks to outperform its benchmark, the Russell Top 200 Index, by employing a systematic approach to portfolio management that includes quantitative models based on fundamental and technical evaluations and an optimization process that seeks to effectively manage relative risk.

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PowerShares Active AlphaQ Fund (PQY) seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of approximately 50 securities listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, selected pursuant to a proprietary stock screening methodology developed by AER Advisors, Inc. AER’s investment process seeks to achieve returns in excess of the NASDAQ 100 Index.

PowerShares Active Alpha Multi-Cap Fund (PQZ) seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of approximately 50 securities selected pursuant to a proprietary stock screening methodology developed by AER Advisors, Inc. The investment process seeks to achieve returns in excess of the S&P 500 Index.

For more information, visit www.invescopowershares.com.

Products April 11, 2008

Thrivent Offers Service to Help Manage Capital Gains Taxes

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ Landmark Group is now offering a new separate account manager, available through Thrivent’s Managed Account Program, to help investors better manage capital gains taxes.
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A Thrivent press release said the service provides an active tax overlay strategy designed to give investors improved absolute returns through potential tax savings. The required minimum account for the program is $1,000,000 of investable (after-tax) assets.

Through the service, financial consultants associated with Thrivent Financial’s Landmark Group together with the client will determine how best to diversify the portfolio, reduce tracking error, and meet the client’s predefined tax budget, the announcement said. The service then obtains managers’ investment models and manages the portfolios, balancing tax implications against managers’ stock selections.

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Optimal trades are selected by considering risk characteristics of each stock, tax implications of potential trade combinations, correlation between stocks in existing and target portfolios, transaction costs, and clients’ capital gains budgets.

To learn more about the program, contact Thrivent Financial’s Landmark Group at 651-779-9720.

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