Issuers Continue to Use Long Term Bonds

The government of Austria just issued a 70-year bond, locking in a low rate of 1.5%. Issuers are taking advantage of low borrowing costs, with some even going out 100 years (so-called century bonds). See article here, Bloomberg.

Passive Investing Continues to Gain Momentum

Actively managed mutual funds have lagged passively managed funds, particularly over longer investment periods. Much of this is likely due to the lower fees charged by passively managed funds. As investors have become more knowledgeable about this relationship, money has flowed at a faster rate into passively managed funds. See article here, WSJ.

What's in a Name? Does Ticker Symbol Matter?

A recent study reveals that companies with ticker symbols that are easier to pronounce (and remember) generally trade at higher values. See article here, WSJ.

Stock Splits Fade

In the past, most companies used stock splits to keep share prices within "acceptable" levels. This facilitated trading and made round lot transactions easier. However, with more efficient trading tools, such benefits no longer exist. Further, recognizing that splits are value neutral, many companies have shunned their use. See article here, WSJ.