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Sometimes, as with Treasury bonds right now, a better deal just isn't good enough. A sharp selloff in Treasuries has taken yields higher, theoretically offering better returns and better protection against inflation. In fact, so-called real yields, meaning yield adjusted for inflation, have actually gone into positive territory. Benchmark 10-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities' (TIPs) yields now stand at 0.13 percent, having climbed into positive territory late last week after 18 months in which investors paid for the privilege of getting some of their money back later. That's better, but it is still not that good and does not constitute much of a reason to load up on Treasuries.   Funnily enough, I say that as someone who doesn't believe the central Treasury bear case - that the Federal Reserve will later this year be able to begin to taper its purchases of bonds. There has been an awakening to the risk that Treasuries, of which the Fed is the single big

When you walk into any given urgent care center, two things matter: who owns it and what insurance you have. Urgent care centers are walk-in clinics where you can get care for medical problems you might otherwise go to an emergency room for - like a broken ankle or an asthma attack - but without the long waits and high costs. Now numbering almost 10,000, there are more urgent care centers in the U.S. than emergency rooms - and that ratio is likely to tip much higher in the next few years as hospitals cut costs: the number of urgent care centers could hit 12,000, according to the research firm IBISWorld. Even if the back of your insurance card states clearly that an urgent care visit will cost you a fixed-amount co-pay (anywhere from $30 to $100), there could also be charges for individual procedures, facility fees or other add-ons.   Figuring out costs is even more challenging for those with co-insurance, where you pay a percentage of every charge, or high-deductible health plans

A long list of rival hedge funds is eager to tap the billions in outside money that Steven A. Cohen's SAC Capital Advisors is expected to return to investors by year-end. Large hedge-fund firms structured like SAC, where Cohen allocates capital to dozens of portfolio teams that trade mainly in stocks, stand to benefit most from the ongoing insider trading probe, hedge fund industry investors and analysts said in a series of interviews. (Most did not want to be identified because of running or investing in funds that compete with SAC or have done business with it.)   Israel Englander's $18 billion Millennium Management, which has long had a rivalry with SAC, is the name that comes up most often as a possible alternative investment, the industry sources said. The firm also relies on a group approach where dozens of smaller portfolio teams, rather than one or two main managers, buy and sell securities quickly, often thousands of them. Balyasny Asset Management, Visium Asset M

Investors in mutual funds based in the United States pulled more than $10 billion out of bonds funds in the week ending June 5, on fears the U.S. Federal Reserve would begin winding down its bond-buying program, data from the Investment Company Institute showed on Wednesday. Total estimated outflows from long-term mutual funds were $11.53 billion for the week. The last time fund outflows reached a similar figure was in early October 2012.   Bond funds saw outflows of $10.93 billion, compared to inflows of $1.36 billion during the previous week. Taxable bond funds saw a withdrawal of $8.68 billion, while municipal bond funds had outflows of $2.26 billion. Equity funds also saw redemptions of $942 million for the week, compared to outflows of $1.00 billion in the previous week. The benchmark S&P 500 stock index fell 2.4 percent over the reporting period on investors' fears related to the U.S. Federal Reserve's next move. The Fed, which is buying $85 billion in Treasurie

William Nygren, a top manager at Oakmark Funds, said on Wednesday he remains bullish on Apple Inc and Bank of America Corp, but is still avoiding Dell Inc in light of the company's plans to take the computer maker private. Nygren, a noted value investor who runs the $9.6 billion Oakmark Fund, said at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago that Apple is undervalued while Bank of America has one of the top management teams in the banking industry. Nygren said that there is "an awful lot that could go wrong at Apple" before it would appear overvalued, and that its high growth rate and recent move to return more cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks was "comforting." Apple announced in April its plan to return $100 billion to shareholders by the end of 2015 by increasing its dividend and share buybacks. The technology giant's stock had tumbled more than 45 percent from September 21 to April 19, falling by roughly $320 per share, but

Within the next few weeks, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) expects to send the Securities and Exchange Commission a proposal to make it easier for securities brokers to erase certain black marks from their records. Once it arrives at the SEC, the plan will meet some resistance from independent consumer attorneys who represent the interests of investors.   FINRA, the industry-supported regulatory organization, is aiming its relief at brokers in a bind: their records are often tattooed with arbitration cases filed against their firms and not the brokers themselves. Brokers who may have unknowingly sold problematic products that were promoted by their firms as safe -- such as auction rate securities - now get black marks on their records when firms settle those cases or arbitrators rule against the firm. Consumer attorneys say a streamlined process that makes it easier for brokers to erase black marks could deny investors important information they should have for

Older Americans are being urged to repair their retirements by working longer. But it's difficult to do in a tough economy, and one cause is illegal age discrimination by employers. The number of age discrimination complaints filed annually with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, surged during the recession of 2008, and in 2012 it was still running 43 percent higher than it was as recently as 2000.   The economy's health is a major driver of age discrimination claims, says Laurie McCann, a senior attorney with the AARP Foundation who specializes in age discrimination. "In an economic downturn, we've always seen older workers bear the brunt." Some employers have a knee-jerk reaction to cut more experienced, older workers, McCann says. "Maybe they can cut one older worker instead of two younger ones," she says. "Sometimes it's a false stereotype that older workers are less productive." The number of complaints ma

Britons' real net incomes fell to their lowest level in a decade in the year ending in March 2012, annual data from the country's labor ministry showed on Wednesday. _0"> Average net incomes including social benefits fell 3 percent during the 2011/12 tax year to their lowest level since 2001/02 on an inflation-adjusted basis.   "Income fell as earnings and benefit income grew more slowly than the cost of living as measured by RPI (retail price inflation)," the Department for Work and Pensions said. The fall in living standards is likely to have continued into the current tax year, as wages have continued to grow at a slower pace than inflation, and many benefits have been raised by less than the rate of inflation. The proportion of Britons in absolute poverty - defined as a weekly income of under 251 pounds ($390) - rose by one percentage point to 17 percent in 2011/12. However the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a leading economic think tank, said the f

Private equity firms are sitting on $116 billion of assets trapped in so-called zombie funds that lie dormant but still rake in fees from investors, research showed on Thursday. _0"> Almost 1,200 private equity funds can be classed as "zombie" - poor-performing funds that have been retained beyond their planned life span and whose managers have little hope of raising more money - according to data from industry tracker Preqin.   Despite the funds being inactive, general partners (GPs) - those managing the funds - still collect management fees from investors. U.S. regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the use of these essentially inactive funds, which critics say drain money from pension funds and other investors that would otherwise be available to reinvest or return to clients. It is part of a wider SEC probe into the private equity industry as a whole. Hedge funds, asset managers and other alternative investment vehicles have also r

This time, the Fed is serious. That's the judgment of U.S. government bond investors who believe the Federal Reserve is close to paring back its $2.5 trillion, 4-1/2-year bond purchase program, and it's causing turmoil in the U.S. Treasury market.   Trading in Treasuries has turned notably more volatile in recent days and volatility may continue as traders try to adjust to a marketplace in flux. In the last six weeks, benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yields have surged to 2.19 percent, from 1.60 percent at the beginning of May. As a result the market has seen a sharp outflow from bond funds and notable lack of demand in Treasury bond auctions. The fund outflows and the rise in volatility offer a worrying glimpse of how markets are likely to behave as the Fed works to scale back its enormous monetary stimulus of the U.S. economy. "When you see the volumes and the movements developing in different markets, then it shows you that the transition from accommodation t

Money managers touted the advantages of non-agency mortgage securities and bank loans on Thursday on expectations that housing prices will accelerate and interest rates will rise. Yields on non-agency mortgages, which are mortgage securities that are not government-guaranteed, are likely to rise at least 5 percentage points as housing prices move higher, investors said at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago.   "They are a good entry point," said Curtis Mewbourne, managing director and head of portfolio management for PIMCO's New York office. Mewbourne said that yields on non-agency mortgages, which are around 5 percent to 6 percent, could rise an additional 5 percentage points as the U.S. housing market improves. Last year, non-agency mortgages issued by Wall Street firms prior to the financial crisis were some of the best performing bonds. The bonds rose in part due to a search for yield by investors and a decline in the number of mortgages falling into

Money managers touted the advantages of non-agency mortgage securities and bank loans on Thursday on expectations that housing prices will accelerate and interest rates will rise. Yields on non-agency mortgages, which are mortgage securities that are not government-guaranteed, are attractive, investors said at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago. Non-agency mortgages, they added, will benefit from a rise in housing prices.   "They are a good entry point," said Curtis Mewbourne, managing director and head of portfolio management for PIMCO's New York office. Mewbourne said that non-agency mortgages, many of which offer yields of around 5 percent to 6 percent, could see additional upside as the U.S. housing market improves. Last year, non-agency mortgages issued by Wall Street firms prior to the financial crisis were some of the best performing bonds. The bonds rose in part due to a search for yield by investors and a decline in the number of mortgages fall

JPMorgan Chase & Co said on Friday its private equity unit, One Equity Partners, will become independent, as the largest U.S. bank increases its focus on client businesses. One Equity Partners, which manages $4.5 billion of investments, will raise its next investment fund externally rather than from JPMorgan, becoming similar to stand-alone private equity firms that pool funds from a variety of investors. One Equity Partners is not core to JPMorgan's business and is being separated as the bank looks to simplify its operating structure, according to a source close to the bank. Private equity is a small part of JPMorgan's business. In the first quarter, the unit posted a loss of $182 million, compared with a profit of $134 million a year earlier.   One Equity Partners will continue to manage existing portfolio companies for the bank, including the travel technology firm Travelport and the healthcare firms M*Modal and Wright Medical Group. The private equity business ha

Switzerland should be ready to share data on foreign depositors with the European Union even before a global standard is established, a government panel said on Friday, a move which would lift the last vestige of its tradition of banking secrecy. _0"> The world's biggest offshore financial center, with $2 trillion in assets, is under massive pressure from the EU and elsewhere, as cash-strapped states seek to stop tax evasion and close loopholes.   "The fundamental ideas of the strategy would be that Switzerland takes an active step in the international tax debate," the commission, led by former top Swiss government economist Aymo Brunetti, said in the report. The recommendations come shortly before the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies meet next week in Northern Ireland , where tax avoidance is likely to figure on the agenda. Switzerland has recently come under increased pressure to fall into line with the EU after Austria and Luxembourg said they were p

Google Inc has launched a small network of balloons over the Southern Hemisphere in an experiment it hopes could bring reliable Internet access to the world's most remote regions, the company said late Friday. _0"> The pilot program, Project Loon, took off this month from New Zealand's South Island, using solar-powered, high-altitude balloons that ride the wind about 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) - twice as high as airplanes - above the ground, Google said.   Like the Internet search engine for which Google is best known, Project Loon uses algorithms to determine where the balloons need to go, then moves them into winds blowing in the desired direction, the company said. By moving with the wind, the balloons form a network of airborne hot spots that can deliver Internet access over a broad area at speeds comparable to 3G using open radio frequency bands, Google said. To connect to the balloon network, a special Internet antenna is attached to buildings below. The Mo

Kim and Kanye's baby : Kim Kardashian and Kanye West 's anxiously awaited baby girl may have finally arrived, but we're going to have to wait years to discover just what kind of personality the little girl has and what kind of relationship she has with her famous parents, and then  decades to learn what kind of career path she'll take. To get the scoop on that stuff ahead of time, omg ! talked to astrologist and founder of  astrologyzone.com  Susan Miller, who took a look at the baby's astrological chart based on her birthdate and the fact she was born in the morning. (In case you were clueless about this stuff like we were, you have to determine what sign was rising on the Eastern horizon as the baby was being born.) And sorry, Kimye haters, sounds like the stars (or in this case planets) have aligned for the world's newest Kardashian … and she'll have a lot going for her in life. As luck would have it, she's lucky  "This baby is t

Kim and Kanye's baby : So Its official now! Kim Kardashian has given birth to a baby daughter, a hospital source confirms to Us Weekly . The E! reality star welcomed the tot with beau, Kanye West , at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, Calif. Originally due July 11, the star couple's new bundle of joy arrived a bit early, and as a special (early!) Father's Day gift for West. "Kim had her baby," a hospital source tells Us exclusively. "She's five weeks early. Kim got sick last night and had the baby early." The source added, "They're all doing great and amazing!" UPDATE: West was by Kardashian's side when she gave birth and a source reveals to Us that Kardashian's family friends, Lisa Gastineau and daughter Brittny, visited the hospital and were seen arriving with flowers. Kardashian, 32, confirmed she and West, 36, were having a girl (as Us exclusively reported in February) on the June 2 season premiere of Keepi

Google Inc has launched a small network of balloons over the Southern Hemisphere in an experiment it hopes could bring reliable Internet access to the world's most remote regions, the company said late Friday. _0"> The pilot program, Project Loon, took off this month from New Zealand's South Island, using solar-powered, high-altitude balloons that ride the wind about 12.5 miles - twice as high as airplanes - above the ground, Google said. Like the Internet search engine for which Google is best known, Project Loon uses algorithms to determine where the balloons need to go, then moves them into winds blowing in the desired direction, the company said. By moving with the wind, the balloons form a network of airborne hot spots that can deliver Internet access over a broad area at speeds comparable to 3G using open radio frequency bands, Google said. To connect to the balloon network, a special Internet antenna is attached to buildings below.   The Mountain View, Cal

Saudi Arabia plans to block Internet-based communication tool WhatsApp within weeks if the U.S.-based firm fails to comply with requirements set by the kingdom's telecom regulator, local newspapers reported this week. _0"> This month the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) banned Viber, another such tool, which like WhatsApp is hard for the state to monitor and deprives telecom companies of revenue from international calls and texts.   The kingdom appears to be making a greater push for more control over cyberspace as Internet and smart phone usage soars, in part due to strict laws that limit opportunities for people to mix in person. "We have been communicating with WhatsApp and other similar communication platforms to get them to cooperate and comply with the Saudi telecom providers, however nothing has come of this communication yet," Abdullah Al-Darrab, governor of the CITC, told Arab News. Al-Darrab said Viber was blocked last w

Saudi Arabia plans to block Internet-based communication tool WhatsApp within weeks if the U.S.-based firm fails to comply with requirements set by the kingdom's telecom regulator, local newspapers reported this week. _0"> This month the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) banned Viber, another such tool, which like WhatsApp is hard for the state to monitor and deprives telecom companies of revenue from international calls and texts.   The kingdom appears to be making a greater push for more control over cyberspace as Internet and smart phone usage soars, in part due to strict laws that limit opportunities for people to mix in person. "We have been communicating with WhatsApp and other similar communication platforms to get them to cooperate and comply with the Saudi telecom providers, however nothing has come of this communication yet," Abdullah Al-Darrab, governor of the CITC, told Arab News. Al-Darrab said Viber was blocked last w

Saudi Arabia plans to block Internet-based communication tool WhatsApp within weeks if the U.S.-based firm fails to comply with requirements set by the kingdom's telecom regulator, local newspapers reported this week. _0"> This month the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) banned Viber, another such tool, which like WhatsApp is hard for the state to monitor and deprives telecom companies of revenue from international calls and texts.   The kingdom appears to be making a greater push for more control over cyberspace as Internet and smart phone usage soars, in part due to strict laws that limit opportunities for people to mix in person. "We have been communicating with WhatsApp and other similar communication platforms to get them to cooperate and comply with the Saudi telecom providers, however nothing has come of this communication yet," Abdullah Al-Darrab, governor of the CITC, told Arab News. Al-Darrab said Viber was blocked last w

Italy's best-known investment bank Mediobanca will announce on Friday it is ready to gradually exit all of its strategic holdings except life insurer Generali, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said.   The Milan-based bank, which owns stakes in some Italy's biggest companies, will present a new business plan to focus on its banking business and break with years of meddling in Italy's top corporate developments. Shrinking returns amid a deep economic crisis at home have prompted the bank to rethink its corporate investment strategy. The bank's 2013-2016 plan will call for retrenching its core investment banking operations and putting greater focus on its retail bank, a source of stable liquidity, as well as on its high-margin consumer finance division. "The key message is more banking, less holdings," the source, who has seen details of the plan, told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Profitability, and not political influence, will be the

British newspapers reported the following business stories on Sunday: THE SUNDAY TIMES Lloyds in running to become shareholder in Joules The private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group is a front-runner to take a stake in clothing and boot brand Joules. Kabel Deutschland demands extra 1 billion euros from Vodafone Vodafone would have to stump up more than 8 billion euros in cash and take on a debt pile of almost 3 billion euros to win control of Kabel Deutschland, Germany's largest cable TV operator, sources told the newspaper. Madame Tussauds eyes 3 billion pound float Merlin Entertainment, the owner of Legoland and Madame Tussauds, has appointed four investment banks - Barclays, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, to advise it on a 3 billion pound ($4.7 billion) stock market listing, likely at the end of this year or early next, citing Sky News. Payments to households to trigger shale gas bonanza People living over shale gas deposits in Britain could receive cash p

A group led by Sweden's Viaeuropa has been chosen to build a super-fast Internet network across Israel that will compete with existing phone and cable companies. A quasi-governmental selection committee said on Sunday they hoped deployment, which will use Cisco's technology, could begin in six months. "All citizens of Israel will enjoy very fast Internet speeds, which could be a significant growth engine for Israel's economy," said Roni Friedman, acting director of the Government Companies Authority in the Finance Ministry.   The government early in 2012 gave the go-ahead for state-run utility Israel Electric Corp (IEC) to seek investors to build the network using fibre optic cables. These can provide Internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second - or as much as 100 times what is currently available. The Communications Ministry believes the project will bring a range of advanced services and lower rates than currently exist. Yet the process was delayed five time