CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK-Free Report), Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS-Free Report), Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE:BX-Free Report), Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:BK-Free Report) and Google Inc. (Nasdaq:GOOGL-Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Alternative Mutual Funds Under SEC Scrutiny
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came up with the regulatory examination of alternative mutual funds. These mutual funds, proposed to be more risky than standard ones, have raised concerns regarding their compliance with leverage and liquidity rules.
Alternative funds, also known as liquid alternative funds, are types of mutual funds that resemble hedge-fund-like strategies. Such strategies include betting on some stocks and against others, trading futures contracts and utilizing derivatives to augment leverage.
Alternative funds, which gained popularity over a short period, have been recommended by fund companies as the hedging tools against market risk for small investors at a lower cost. According to fund research firm Morningstar Inc., these funds recorded inflows of $40.2 billion in 2013, up from $14.5 billion in 2012.
The SEC strategizes to test around 25 of the funds over the next several months. The results of the test will determine the process of operating these mutual funds and the underlying degree of risk. Depending on the outcome, the SEC may decide if more fund companies need to be examined.
Some large investment firms, including BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK-Free Report) and AQR Capital Management LLC, have come under the purview of scrutiny along with certain smaller firms, which initiated issuing such funds.
Some firms, which are on the verge of launching such funds for the first time or have already initiated, include The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS-Free Report), The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE:BX-Free Report), The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:BK-Free Report) and Pacific Investment Management Co.
Following the surge of investments in alternative mutual funds, the SEC is examining the liquidity of these funds and the system followed by the funds' boards in executing these funds' operations. Moreover, along with funds' managers, mutual fund board members are also being questioned.
As per the Investment Company Act of 1940, the SEC regulates mutual funds to safeguard investors. The scrutiny is currently seeking information about the industry and not enforcing any actions. However, the outcome of the examination would give a clear picture for both funds' managers and investors and help SEC and other regulators decide on the next corrective action.
Google, Asian Firms to Build Faster Marine Internet Cable
Google Inc. (Nasdaq:GOOGL-Free Report) recently announced that it will collaborate with five Asian telecommunication companies in a bid to develop a high-speed underwater cable network between the U.S. and Asia.
The consortium will invest around $300 million to build the fiber-optic cable system, FASTER, on the Trans-Pacific route connecting the U.S. to Japan. As is evident from the name of the project, the network is projected to transfer data 10 million times faster than traditional cable modems and will have the capacity to transmit 60 terabits of data per second.
The latest project will help Google to further spread its reach and offer better user experience. Therefore, if successful, Google's latest move will bolster its customer base, which will ultimately translate into more revenues for the tech giant. Moreover, it will help it to develop a fast and reliable network infrastructure with extra bandwidth, which could benefit its other businesses including Android and Cloud.
This will be the third main Pacific cable project that Google has invested in. In 2008, Google had invested in a network to Japan. Three years later, it invested in a connection between Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.
This time Google will collaborate with China Telecom, China Mobile International, Malaysia's Global Transit, Japan's KDDI and Singapore's SingTel to help it carry out the project swiftly.
Google, the world's largest online search engine, is gradually strengthening its foothold in new markets.
Google shares currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
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